Union Budget 2025 Date and Time: Nirmala Sitharaman to Present 8th Consecutive Budget Don’t Miss LIVE Coverage!

Introduction: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2025 on February 1, marking her eighth consecutive budget. This presentation will also make history as she surpasses Pranab Mukherjee’s record of delivering eight budgets. The upcoming budget is the second full budget of the NDA government’s third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Historical Records

Morarji Desai: Holds the record for presenting the most budgets (10, including two interim budgets) between 1959-1969.
P Chidambaram: Delivered nine budgets during his tenure, making him the second-highest contributor.
Pranab Mukherjee: Presented eight budgets, which Sitharaman will surpass with the Union Budget 2025.

What to Expect in Budget 2025?

Economic analysts are anticipating major announcements focusing on:

Infrastructure Development: Enhanced investments in transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure.
Social Welfare Programs: Increased allocations for health, education, and rural development.
Tax Reforms: Possible adjustments in income tax slabs and GST rates.

Key Features of Union Budget 2025

Digital Format: Like previous budgets, the 2025 budget will be paperless and accessible on the ‘Union Budget Mobile App’.
Halwa Ceremony: The traditional ceremony marking the final stage of budget preparation was conducted with Finance Ministry officials in attendance.
Broadcast: The budget speech will be live-streamed on Parliament’s official channels, Doordarshan, Sansad TV, and government YouTube channels. Live updates will also be available on platforms like Livemint.com.

Timeline of the Budget Process

October 2024: Budget preparations began with inter-ministerial consultations.
February 1, 2025: Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the budget speech at 11 a.m. in the Lok Sabha.

Budget Presentation Records

Most Consecutive Budgets: Sitharaman has already broken Morarji Desai’s record of six consecutive budgets.
Longest Budget Speech: Her 2020 budget speech lasted for 2 hours and 41 minutes, a record in itself.

How to Access Budget Documents?

The budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement, Finance Bill, and Demand for Grants, will be available on:

Official Portal: www.indiabudget.gov.in.
Union Budget Mobile App: Ensures hassle-free access to all documents.

Modi Government’s Budgetary Innovations

Merged Budgets: In 2017, the Rail Budget was merged with the Union Budget.
Date Shift: Budget presentation moved to February 1 from the traditional end-of-month date.
Digital Transition: Introduced a paperless budget in 2021.

Conclusion

The Union Budget 2025 is poised to address critical economic and social challenges while setting new records in India’s financial history. With expectations running high, Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech is anticipated to outline bold reforms and transformative initiatives.