Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Meets President Murmu Ahead Of Budget Presentation

Ahead of her historic Union Budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman paid a ceremonial visit to President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday.

During the meeting, President Murmu performed the traditional ritual of offering ‘dahi-cheeni,’ symbolizing good fortune for the significant task ahead.

This year’s budget marks a notable milestone for Sitharaman as she becomes the first finance minister in Indian history to deliver seven consecutive Budget speeches.

This achievement surpasses the previous record held by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who presented six consecutive budgets from 1959 to 1964.

The Modi government will present its 13th consecutive budget with the 2024 Budget since coming into power in 2014.

Earlier in the day, Sitharaman and her team posed for a traditional photograph outside the Finance Ministry.

She wore an elegant off-white saree with a magenta border and held a red ‘bahi-khata’ ledger, nodding to traditional accounting practices.

This move continues her departure from the long-standing tradition of using a briefcase for the Budget presentation.

Since 2019, Sitharaman has opted for the ‘bahi-khata,’ and in 2021, she introduced a paperless format by using a ‘Made in India’ tablet.

The ongoing Budget Session, which commenced on 22 July, is likely to conclude on 12 August.

On Monday, Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey in Parliament, which forecasts India’s GDP growth rate to range between 6.5% and 7% for the fiscal year 2024-25.

Despite a challenging global economic environment, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran affirmed that achieving a 7% growth rate remains within reach for India.

As the Budget presentation approaches, all eyes are on Sitharaman’s historic speech, which is likely to set new benchmarks in Indian financial policy.

Also Read: Sitharaman Set To Break Record Held By Morarji Desai With Seventh Consecutive Union Budget