• Source:JND

Union Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to deliver her 9th Union Budget speech on February 1, continuing a modern tradition she embraced some years ago, where she reads the budget documents from a tablet.

The new way of presenting the budget shows India's forward-moving digital adoption. At the same time, the practice underscores a significant evolution not just in the delivery of the Budget, but also in the process behind its preparation.

Shift From Decades-Old Customs

The shift from a colonial-era briefcase to a distinctly 'Indian Bahi Khata, and finally to a paperless, domestically-made digital device, shows a fascinating journey toward India becoming self reliant nation.

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Briefcase Era Was Symbol Of British Legacy

For decades, the presentation of the Union Budget was symbolised with Indian finance ministers carrying a briefcase into Parliament. This custom was established by India's first Finance Minister, R.K. Shanmukham Chetty, in 1947, who adopted the British tradition of carrying a leather bag.

The briefcase remained a powerful visual symbol of the Budget for over 70 years, captured in countless news reports.

Sitharaman Replaces Briefcase With Bahi Khata

The first major break from this long-standing tradition took place in 2019 when Sitharaman chose to replace the briefcase with a red-coloured “bahi khata.”

A bahi khata has been used in Indian tradition, historically used by business owners to keep track of their financial accounts.

The Finance Minister justified the change, describing the bahi khata as "very Indian" and "easier" to carry.

However, the most definitive step into the modern era came in 2021, when Sitharaman opted for a completely paperless format.

For this first post-COVID-19 pandemic Budget, she read out the proposals using a tablet, which was reportedly made in India.

Also Read: Budget 2026: From GDP Growth To Capital Expenditure To Unemployment Rate, Key Numbers To Watch

Tablet Came As A Sign Of The Digital Era

As a nod to her recent custom, the tablet itself was carried inside a red pouch designed to resemble the bahi khata.

The embrace of the digital age has extended far beyond the presentation tool.

For four decades, the production of all Union Budget documents was managed by a dedicated printing press housed in the basement of North Block, where India's Ministry of Finance is located.

Since 2020, the majority of the Budget has been digitized, with only a small quantity of physical copies printed.

This move has had a practical impact on confidentiality as well, shortening the mandatory "lock-in period"—the time the Budget is kept confidential before its official release—from up to two weeks to a mere five days.


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