New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did a reprise of her previous look where she brought the Budget in a red pouch draped digital tablet, in a hark back to the Indian ‘bahi-khata’, a traditional book of accounts maintained by the trader community since time immemorial. The finance minister, known for her sartorial choices, proceeded towards the Parliament draped in a white silk saree with a magenta border. To be sure, the finance minister did sport a briefcase, traditional look for the finance minister since Independence.
Evolution of the bahi khata
Finance minister Sitharaman is the first finance minister in India’s history to carry the Budget in a bahi khata — a red pouch sporting the national emblem.
She ended the colonial legacy of the Budget briefcase in July 2019
In 2021, she replaced the Budget papers with the tablet
The first Budget briefcase in India was used by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer
In 1860, William E Gladstone brought the Budget in a red suitcase embossed with the Queen’s monogram in gold
On 1947, RK Shanmukham Chetty, India’s first finance minister, brought a leather portfolio to present India’s first Budget
In the 1950s, most finance ministers brought a file bag
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who held the finance portfolio briefly, carried a black briefcase
In 1991, future Prime Minister Manmohan Singh carried his Budget speech in a black bag
In the UPA years, future President Pranab Mukherjee brought the Budget speech in a red briefcase
In 2019, Piyush Goyal became the last finance minister to carry the Budget in a briefcase
What happens on Budget Day?
On Budget Day, the finance minister starts from her residence and accompanied by her team of officials, heads to meet the President.
She will then proceed towards Parliament after meeting President Draupadi Murmu.
The Budget speech begins at 11 am.
📸FM @nsitharaman with the Budget Team outside the Ministry of Finance in North Block. #UnionBudget2024 to be presented at 11 AM.#Budget2024 #UnionBudget #BudgetForViksitBharat @nsitharamanoffc @FinMinIndia @DFS_India @mppchaudhary @PIB_India @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/toQvbeqFhQ
— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) July 23, 2024
Budget Stories
Click to read in detail
Income Tax announcements
Income Tax LIVE updates
Budget updates
Budget LIVE: Nirmala Sitharaman Speech
Focus on Farmers
Govt may announce sops for farmers
Budget expectations
Nirmala Sitharaman may provide tax relief
Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman once again brought her Budget speech in an iPad wrapped in a bahi khata — a traditional Indian book of accounts. Biz News Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
