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Did You Know India’s Union Budget Was Leaked Not Once, But Twice?

The Union Budget faced two major leaks in history, prompting strict security measures to prevent future breaches.

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Did You Know India’s Union Budget Was Leaked Not Once, But Twice?

India is eagerly anticipating the Budget speech of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1; hence, the careful steps to preserve its confidentiality are rather fascinating. Shrouded in great confidentiality, the Budget details the financial goals—including costs and debt—of the country. Some officials participating in the procedure are even prohibited from contact with outsiders, including their family.

But have you ever asked yourself why such privacy is called for? It comes out of the reality that in Indian history the Union Budget was leaked twice—-not once.

The 1947 Budget Leakage

Months after India became independent in 1947, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed Sir RK Shanmukham Chetty to deliver the first Budget for the freshly sovereign country. November 26, 1947, expected for November 26, 1947, this Budget ran from August 31, 1947, to March 31, 1947.

Before Chetty could give his 5 PM speech—scheduled to enable British colleagues to track the proceedings—the information had already been circulated.

The leak happened when British Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Dalton offhandedly let a journalist know major tax suggestions. As per The Guardian, Dalton told Daily Star correspondent John Carvel, “No more on tobacco; a penny on beer; something on dogs and pools but not on horses; increase in purchase tax, but only on articles now taxable; profits tax doubled,” while on way to the Commons chamber.

Carvel’s report was circulating around within 20 minutes, setting off a great deal of quiety. Having no other option, Dalton apologised and stepped down from his job.

The 1950 Budget Draft

The 1947 event was not the only occasion early Budget information became known. In 1950, there was another major leak.

The Budget was printed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan press, where confidentiality had never been breached. But during John Matthais’ term as finance minister, pages from the Budget document were leaked while at the press.

News18 says that following the event Matthai, India’s second finance minister, stepped down under charges of giving unfair favor to prominent people.

Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Budget printing was transferred to a government press based on Minto Road in answer to the violation. The printing process was later moved to the basement of North Block in 1980, where it still occurs.

Securing the Budget for Today

Stringent security protocols now cover the Union Budget to keep it from leaking. Gallery access is limited weeks before the presentation, so little ones accompany their political parent about on his road.being trip on a virtual lockdown weeks before the presentation.

Security is increased by officers from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) fifteen days before the Budget speech by the Minister. To stop unauthorized entry, CISF sentries are based outside important buildings, which includes those of the finance minister and finance secretary.

Budget staff under quarantine are unable to depart or see their families. Their families can leave messages on a specified telephone in case of emergency; however, direct contact is not allowed. Only the finance minister may go to see them.

The most carefully protected document when printing starts is the address of the finance minister. Only two days before the February 1 show, the printing companies get it. Any pitch of Budget materials violates the Official Secrets Act and attracts harsh consequences.

Still need this level of confidentiality?

Some analysts doubt the necessity for such total privacy, claiming that many important policy statements are not among the budget. Furthermore, several nations release budget proposals many months ahead to the general public.

India, nevertheless, keeps this custom—maybe a heritage of British epoch customs—maintaining the secrecy element until the great reveal.

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Union budget