Nirmala Sitharaman is set to create history by presenting the Union Budget for the ninth consecutive time, as acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2026 Budget Session in Parliament. PM Modi emphasized the significance of this moment, marking the beginning of a crucial phase towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Highlighting Sitharaman’s remarkable feat, PM Modi noted that she is the first woman finance minister to present the Budget in Parliament for the ninth time, a milestone in the country’s Parliamentary history. The upcoming Budget, scheduled for February 1, will be the 15th under the leadership of PM Modi’s government and the second full Budget since the NDA’s third consecutive term in 2024.
The finance minister is supported by a proficient team of bureaucrats and economists for the Union Budget 2026. Anuradha Thakur, the Economic Affairs Secretary, plays a pivotal role in shaping the Budget’s framework, overseeing resource allocation, fiscal assessment, and ensuring alignment of growth priorities with economic stability. Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran provides essential analytical support, evaluating economic trends and advising on reforms and fiscal strategies.
Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava supervises tax matters, including income tax, corporate tax, GST, and customs duties, in his first Budget in this role. Expenditure Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam manages public spending and subsidy reforms, crucial for fiscal discipline. Department of Financial Services Secretary M. Nagaraju focuses on financial inclusion and social security programs, while Arunish Chawla oversees non-tax revenue targets from government asset sales.
