When Parliament stayed up all night

• The Budget session of Parliament in India marked a significant event, with both Houses closing before sunrise.

• The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had high productivity, with 118% and 119% respectively.

• The event was a rare and significant occasion, but for the author, it was the first as a parliamentary reporter.

• Members spoke with urgency, often resulting in news coverage and viral social media posts.

• The author was concerned about the print deadline, fearing missing out on important details and avoiding nuances.

• After filing the day’s copy, the author enjoyed the parliamentary debates, which were filled with monologues, veiled insults, verbal volleys, and mix-ups.

• The author noted that parliamentary debates were not public until the late 19th century, with the Parliamentary Papers Act permitting newspapers to publish debates.

• The author emphasized that hearing parliamentary debates is a privilege, but noted physical barriers to accessing Parliament.