Breaking barriers once again, Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth successive Union Budget on February 1, becoming the first woman to do so in independent India. Prime Minister Modi termed it ‘a proud pinnacle of our parliamentary legacy’ while addressing reporters ahead of the Economic Survey 2026.
Modi contextualized the timing: ‘One-fourth of the 21st century behind us, the next phase dawns. Achieving Viksit Bharat@2047 requires unwavering focus over the next 25 years—this budget launches that journey.’
As the 15th budget under Modi 3.0 and second post-NDA’s 2024 win, it reflects sustained governance momentum. A dream team of officials fuels its preparation.
Anuradha Thakur’s Budget Division is the nerve center, designing fiscal maps that allocate resources wisely, cap spends, and harmonize development goals.
Chief Economic Adviser V. Ananth Nageswaran offers razor-sharp economic foresight, from risk evaluations to sectoral deep dives, shaping enduring reforms.
Debutant Revenue Secretary Arvind Srivastava manages tax ecosystems. Vumlunmung Vualnam ensures disciplined expenditures and deficit management.
M. Nagaraju fortifies financial institutions for inclusion, while Arunish Chawla maximizes non-tax revenues via savvy asset handling.
The budget is expected to tackle inflation, unemployment, and climate imperatives while supercharging infra and tech. Sitharaman’s decade-long stewardship promises a forward-looking plan, aligning short-term needs with long-term ambitions for a resilient, thriving India.