Union Budget 2012-13: The Budget Session started on Monday with the President Smt. Pratibha Patil Devisingh addressing both Houses of the Parliament. Stating that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was committed to honest and efficient governance, President Pratibha Patil said the country would soon be back on the high growth path of eight to nine percent from the seven percent estimated for the current fiscal.

The General Budget for the fiscal year 2012-13 will submitted on 16 March, while the Railway Budget 2012-13 is scheduled to be presented on 14 March. The budget session is expected to be a tough one for the government. It comes less than a week after the Congress faced electoral defeat in the bigger states like UP and Punjab. The Opposition, sensing the UPA government's weakness, is likely to be at its aggressive best. More worrying for the government is how to ensure its allies, especially Ms Banerjee, don't challenge the government on key policies. But with its house in disorder, the government is unlikely to push for any big-ticket reforms.

However getting ready to face a belligerent Opposition, the Prime Minister told that his government has the numbers that are needed to push through important legislation. When asked about the stress of managing a coalition greatly enervated by the recent state elections, he said that "the pressure is part of the job."