Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (second from left) addresses the media as he arrives at the Parliament in New Delhi, India, Sept 14, 2020. (PHOTO / AP)

Indian lawmakers returned to the nation’s parliament for the first time since the start of the pandemic with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government bracing for a tumultuous session as the country sets new global records in coronavirus infections.

The worst economic slowdown amid major economies is also expected to drive debate, although the question hour -- in which lawmakers seek direct replies from ministers -- has been suspended in a move that’s only happened in times of war or national emergency, prompting criticism from the opposition.

India suffered the worst economic slowdown amid major economies, and it is the second worst-hit country in this pandemic with more than 4.7 million infections and has the world's third highest death toll

Countries around the world have been grappling with how to conduct legislative business during the pandemic. In India this parliament session will be marked by several firsts. The COVID-19 epidemic has forced the overhaul of logistics and infrastructure to maintain social distancing among members.

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Members are required to get tested for the virus no more than 72 hours before the start of the parliament session, according to a bulletin from the upper house or Rajya Sabha. Some senior lawmakers have informed the secretariat of both houses they will skip the session to avoid exposing themselves to possible infection. The average age of members of 545-seat lower house or Lok Sabha is 54 and that of the 250-member upper house is 63 years -- putting many in the high-risk group for serious complications from COVID-19.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in the air conditioning system will be used, while polycarbonate sheets will separate galleries from chambers, additional display screens and special cables connecting the two houses have been installed.

Surging epidemic

The session comes as Modi struggles to contain the spread of the virus, which is growing at one of the fastest paces in world and adding as many as 95,000 case each day. India is now the second worst affected country with more than 4.7 million infections and has the highest death toll after US and Brazil.

READ MORE: New cases in India more than double US, Brazil daily average

India’s strict lockdown, implemented in late March to contain the outbreak, led to the biggest contraction among major economies with gross domestic product shrinking 23.9 percent in the three months to June from a year earlier, resulting in millions of job losses.

The main opposition Congress party intends to push the government over what it says are its failure to contain the coronavirus epidemic.

The session, that is scheduled to end on Oct 1, will take up 11 bills to replace existing ordinances and some other legislation, including three bills on labor reforms, according to a government statement.