Nirmala Sitharaman has a busy schedule today as all eyes are on her presentation of the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament at 11 am. Earlier this morning, she was spotted at the Finance Ministry wearing a white saree with a violet border, carrying the essential Budget documents.
Sitharaman is also making history today. She has become the only Finance Minister to present the Union Budget for the seventh consecutive time, surpassing the late Morarji Desai’s record of six consecutive budgets.
The Budget is expected to emphasize the government’s renewed focus on job creation and capital expenditure (capex). In recent Budgets, the government has emphasized increasing capital expenditure. However, revised estimates in the interim Budget indicate that the capex target was not met this year. An RBI bulletin had noted that the “corporate sector must get its act together to relieve the government of capex heavy lifting.”
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, carrying the Budget tablet, arrived at Parliament to present the first Budget of the Modi government’s third term. She is expected to start her speech at 11 am.
FM Sitharaman is likely to deliver the budgte at 11 AM in the Lok Sabha. This timing represents a shift from the traditional 5 PM slot, a change instituted by finance minister Yashwant Sinha in 1999.
Today’s presentation marks a significant milestone in Indian fiscal policy, showcasing Sitharaman’s continued influence and leadership in shaping the country’s economic strategy.