Nirmala Sitharaman Prepares To Make History With Seventh Consecutive Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver her seventh consecutive paperless budget on July 22 during the Monsoon Session. This milestone makes her the first Finance Minister to present seven consecutive budgets, surpassing Morarji Desai’s record of six. Desai, who served from 1959 to 1964, presented five full budgets and one interim budget.

The 2024 Union Budget will continue the paperless tradition, following the Interim Union Budget presented on February 1 ahead of the general elections. The Finance Ministry has engaged with various economic stakeholders  from trade unions, the education and health sectors, MSMEs, economists, and more since June 20 to gather input on key budgetary concerns, focusing on capital expenditure and employment growth.

The Monsoon Session, running until August 12 with 19 sittings, will also see the introduction of six bills, including the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 and the budget for Jammu and Kashmir. Farmer associations are advocating for increased agriculture sector allocations, while industry representatives are pushing for enhanced capital expenditure.

The Union Budget documents will be accessible via the “Union Budget Mobile App,” ensuring easy access for both Members of Parliament and the public.