An artist named Juhaib Khan from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, crafted a six-foot portrait of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on a wall coinciding with the Union Budget 2026 presentation. Khan, known for using charcoal in his artwork based on real events, chose to depict Sitharaman as she presented the budget for the ninth time. The sketch includes elements like wheat grains, a happy family, and a soldier in battle mode, symbolizing progress and growth for the nation.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Union Budget 2026-27 during a meeting at Sansad Bhawan in Parliament. Following the Cabinet’s endorsement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proceeded to Parliament for the budget presentation. Earlier in the day, Sitharaman met with President Droupadi Murmu and presented a digital copy of the budget, receiving ‘dahi-cheeni’ (curd and sugar) from the President as a gesture of goodwill.
Accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Economic Advisor Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal, and other officials, Sitharaman is delivering her ninth consecutive Union Budget in the Lok Sabha. Embracing a modern and eco-friendly approach, she has replaced the traditional leather briefcase with a ‘bahi-khata’ since 2019 and transitioned to using a digital tablet for the Budget papers since 2021. Sitharaman’s choice of attire for this year’s presentation includes a deep maroon Kanjeevaram saree from Tamil Nadu, adorned with subtle gold detailing and paired with a yellow blouse.
