Finance Minister meets President Murmu before presenting historic fiscal roadmap
In a heartwarming blend of tradition and governance, President Droupadi Murmu hosted Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning. Before heading to Parliament for the Union Budget 2026 presentation, the President offered 'dahi-cheeni' to the Finance Minister. This traditional gesture is a long-standing Indian custom believed to bring good luck and success for important milestones.
Sitharaman arrived at the presidential residence accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and senior officials. Following the auspicious ritual, she briefed the President on the core components and fiscal goals of the upcoming budget. The Finance Minister was spotted holding her signature 'bahi-khata'— a digital tablet encased in a red cloth featuring the national emblem, symbolizing the shift from paper-based ledgers to a modern, digital India.
Today marks a significant milestone in Indian political history. By presenting her ninth consecutive budget, Nirmala Sitharaman equals the record held by former minister P. Chidambaram and overtakes the tally of Pranab Mukherjee. Only Morarji Desai, who presented ten budgets, remains ahead in this regard.
The Union Budget 2026 will outline the estimated receipts and spending for the 2026-27 financial year. Key documents, including the Medium-term Fiscal Policy and the Macro-economic Framework Statement, will also be tabled. These papers provide the necessary context for the Finance Bill 2026, which gives legal authority to the government’s tax and spending proposals.
This presentation follows the tabling of the Economic Survey on Thursday, which acted as a "report card" for the nation’s financial health. With the Budget session scheduled for 30 sittings over 65 days, all eyes are now on the Lok Sabha to see how the government plans to steer the Indian Economy 2026-27 toward growth.
With Agency Inputs
