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NEW DELHI — The national capital is buzzing with anticipation as February 1 approaches. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 this Sunday at 11 AM. This marks a historic occasion, as it is the first time the full budget will be tabled on a Sunday. By delivering her ninth consecutive budget, Sitharaman further solidifies her position as the longest-serving female finance minister in India’s history.
Moreover, this presentation takes her closer to the ultimate record held by Morarji Desai, who delivered ten budgets in total. However, Sitharaman already holds the crown for the most consecutive presentations. As the nation watches, several unique facts and traditions define this monumental annual event.
The Marathon Speech and the “Bahi Khata” Revolution
Nirmala Sitharaman is no stranger to breaking records. In 2020, she delivered the longest-ever budget speech in Indian history. It lasted a remarkable 2 hours and 42 minutes. Interestingly, she had to cut the speech short with two pages remaining due to exhaustion. Conversely, the shortest budget speech was delivered by Hirubhai Mulljibhai Patel in 1977, totaling only 800 words.
Additionally, Sitharaman famously replaced the colonial-era leather briefcase with the traditional Indian “Bahi Khata” in 2019. This red silk ledger symbolized a departure from Western influence and a return to indigenous roots. Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a digital revolution. In 2021, the first-ever paperless budget was introduced. Today, the “Bahi Khata” serves as a digital tablet sleeve, merging tradition with the “Digital India” vision.
Halwa Ceremony and Breaking Colonial Chains
Before the budget reaches Parliament, the secretive “lock-in” period begins with the Halwa Ceremony. This traditional ritual involves cooking a sweet dish in the North Block basement. Afterward, officials remain isolated for days to ensure complete secrecy and prevent leaks.
Furthermore, the timing of the budget has evolved significantly. Until 1999, the budget was presented at 5 PM to align with British clocks in London. Yashwant Sinha broke this 150-year-old practice by moving it to 11 AM. Later, in 2017, Arun Jaitley moved the date from the end of February to February 1. This change ensured that all budgetary allocations could be finalized before the new fiscal year begins on April 1.