Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was seen with a tablet encased in a red “bahi-khata” sleeve adorned with the national emblem as she prepared to present the Union Budget for 2024-25 to Parliament. The sight marks a significant shift from the traditional briefcase to a modern, paperless approach to budget presentation.
Clad in a white silk saree with a violet border, Ms. Sitharaman, accompanied by her team, posed for the customary photograph outside her office before proceeding to Rashtrapati Bhawan to meet the President.
The transition from a traditional briefcase to a “bahi-khata” ledger was initiated by Ms. Sitharaman in 2019, symbolizing a move away from colonial legacies. The term ‘Budget’ originates from the French word ‘bougette’, meaning leather briefcase, a tradition dating back to the 18th century in Britain.
In 2021, the Finance Minister further modernized the process by presenting the budget using a ‘Made in India’ tablet, marking the first paperless budget presentation in India’s history.
This budget marks Ms. Sitharaman’s seventh consecutive presentation and the 13th budget of the Modi government since 2014. It is expected to focus on income tax reforms and enhancing the ease of doing business in India.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary emphasized that this Union Budget will align with Prime Minister Modi’s mantra of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.”
The budget session, which commenced on July 22, is scheduled to conclude on August 12. The economic survey, presented on Monday by Ms. Sitharaman, projects that India’s economy can achieve a 7% growth rate in the medium term.
