At 11 am, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to unveil the final budget of the second term of the Narendra Modi government. As the first woman to hold the finance portfolio on a full-time basis, Sitharaman will also become only the second finance minister to present six consecutive budgets. This achievement puts her in the league of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who delivered six straight budgets during his tenure as finance minister.
Desai, the ex-prime minister, tabled five full budgets and an interim one. Sitharaman, until now, has delivered five full budgets, with Thursday’s presentation being an interim one.
Where to Watch FM Sitharaman’s Speech?
Her much-anticipated speech can be viewed live on the YouTube channels of Doordarshan, Press Information Bureau (PIB), and Sansad TV. For live updates, viewers can follow the Hindustan Times’ blog.
Interestingly, all eyes will be on the duration of the finance minister’s address. Sitharaman’s 2020 budget speech holds the record as the longest-ever in history, lasting 162 minutes.
Why is it an ‘Interim’ Budget?
The budget in focus pertains to the financial year (FY) 2024-25. However, it is labeled ‘interim’ due to the impending general election scheduled for April-May this year. A full budget for FY24-25 is expected to be presented in July by the incoming government, whether it be a new administration or a re-elected one.
As a reminder, a financial year in India begins on April 1 and concludes on March 31 the following year.
