Prime Minister has sought cooperation from all political parties to jointly work in Parliament to ward off the adverse impact of global economic slowdown. Talking to reporters outside Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session today, Dr Manmohan Singh said that the country needs action to safeguard against the ill-effects of the slowdown.

The Budget session of Parliament begins today with President Pranab Mukherjee addressing a joint sitting of both houses. The Rail Budget will be presented on the 26th followed by the Economic survey on the 27th of this month. The General budget will be presented on the 28th. The 55 bills including the Land Acquisition Bill, the National Food Security Bill, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill and the Communal Violence Bill have been identified for consideration and passing during the session spread over 79 days in two phases.