Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived at the Parliament carrying a red-sleeved budget tablet adorned with the national emblem, symbolizing the budget’s paperless evolution. This marks her seventh consecutive budget presentation, emphasizing a shift from tradition to modernity.
The journey from a traditional briefcase to a “bahi-khata” and now a digital budget tablet reflects the government’s efforts to shed colonial legacies and embrace technology. In 2019, Sitharaman replaced the longstanding Budget briefcase with a ‘bahi khata,’ a red-colored Indian accounting ledger, signaling a break from the past. By 2021, the budget went entirely digital, with the Finance Minister using a ‘Made in India’ tablet for her presentation. Today, she posed with her team, holding the iconic red ‘bahi khata’ digital tablet, before heading to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The upcoming budget is expected to focus on revising the income tax structure and enhancing the ease of doing business in India, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” (Together with all, Development for all). Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary highlighted this mantra, indicating a budget aimed at inclusive growth.
The budget session of Parliament, which commenced on July 22, is scheduled to conclude on August 12. On Monday, Sitharaman presented the economic survey to Parliament, projecting a medium-term growth rate of 7% for the Indian economy.
As anticipation builds, the nation awaits the key announcements that will shape India’s economic landscape in the coming year.