In a momentous occasion for Indian democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s achievement of presenting the central budget for the ninth time in a row. ‘This is a moment of immense pride in our parliamentary annals,’ Modi declared on Thursday, spotlighting her as the pioneer woman finance minister to reach this mark.
The announcement came just before the Economic Survey 2026 was laid in Parliament. Modi underscored the temporal context: ‘We’ve covered one-fourth of this century; the second quarter begins now. With Viksit Bharat 2047 in sight, these 25 years demand extraordinary resolve.’ The forthcoming budget heralds this new chapter.
Scheduled for February 1, this 15th budget of the Modi era follows the NDA’s 2024 poll triumph, promising bold fiscal strategies. Sitharaman’s team comprises elite minds tackling complex economic challenges.
At the forefront is Anuradha Thakur, whose Budget Division orchestrates the entire framework, from expenditure planning to strategic resource distribution, ensuring equilibrium between expansion and prudence.
V. Ananth Nageswaran, the CEA, delivers in-depth analysis on growth projections, international threats, and sector-specific dynamics, advising on reforms and visionary policies.
New Revenue Secretary Arvind Srivastava steps into the spotlight for his first budget, managing tax collections across direct and indirect streams. Vumlunmung Vualnam, Expenditure Secretary, enforces spending controls, subsidy tweaks, and scheme execution while curbing fiscal deficits.
M. Nagaraju advances financial sector reforms, bolstering banks and insurance for broader inclusion. Arunish Chawla optimizes public assets through strategic divestments.
Expectations run high for incentives in green energy, digital economy, and job creation. Sitharaman’s track record suggests a budget that not only stabilizes but accelerates India’s ascent on the global stage, reinforcing Modi’s vision of self-reliance and prosperity.