Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman created history on Saturday as she presented her eighth consecutive Union Budget, marking a record-breaking streak in India’s economic history. Sitharaman, who has been at the helm of the finance ministry since 2019, now holds the distinction of presenting the most consecutive budgets under one prime minister, surpassing several of her predecessors.
Her latest budget comes at a crucial time when the Indian economy faces challenges, including a slowdown and increasing demands for tax relief from the middle class. With this milestone, Sitharaman moves closer to the record set by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who presented a total of ten budgets during his political career. Desai, who served as the Finance Minister from 1959 to 1964, delivered six budgets during that tenure. He later presented four additional budgets between 1967 and 1969 while holding the same portfolio.
Before Sitharaman, former finance ministers P. Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee had presented nine and eight budgets, respectively, albeit under different prime ministers. However, Sitharaman remains unparalleled in her achievement of delivering eight consecutive budgets under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Appointed as India’s first full-time woman finance minister in 2019, Sitharaman took charge of the ministry during Modi’s second term. Her tenure has seen significant economic policies and structural reforms, including the handling of economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of various relief measures for businesses and taxpayers, and efforts to boost capital investment.
As the Modi-led government secured a third consecutive term in 2024, Sitharaman retained the finance portfolio, continuing to steer the country’s economic policies. Her experience and leadership in the ministry have solidified her position as one of India’s most influential policymakers in the economic sector.
This latest budget presentation not only reinforces her dominance in the finance ministry but also cements her legacy in India’s economic history. With two more budgets to go before equaling Morarji Desai’s record, all eyes will be on Sitharaman’s future tenure and the policies she continues to shape.
