FM Nirmala Sitharaman opens Budget for Modi 3.0 govt

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been creating history ever since she became the finance minister of India. She is the first full-time woman Finance Minister of the country, and, on July 23, Tuesday, as Sitharaman presents her seventh consecutive Union Budget, she also becomes the longest serving Finance Minister of India, surpassing Morarji Desai (1959-1963, 1967-1969). 

In her first year as the FM, in 2019, Sitharaman ditched the colonial briefcase and opted for a bahi khata to carry the Budget documents and her inaugural presentation—a landmark move in itself. Post the pandemic, the FM switched to a digital tablet, wrapped in a traditional bahi khata pouch. 

Over the years, the FM’s attire has also become a topic of discussion, as she has actively supported Indian handloom and textiles by wearing them for her Budget appearances. For her seventh consecutive year, the FM is sporting a checkered off-white saree with a magenta and golden border. 

In the early hours of Tuesday, the day of the first full Budget for the Modi 3.0 government, FM Sitharaman posed with her digital tablet, wrapped in a traditional red bahi khata cover, with a golden national emblem embossed on it, before she headed to the Parliament. 

The first full Budget of 2024 will focus on the mission of creating Viksit Bharat or Developed India by 2047, the Prime Minister had mentioned on the first day of the monsoon session of the Parliament.

“This Budget is an important Budget for Amrit Kaal (well-balanced and planned vision) ... This Budget will also become a strong foundation of our dream of Viksit Bharat,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his address to the media on Monday. 

In line with the government’s mission, the Indian startup ecosystem has high expectations from the full Budget 2024. One of the key asks of the startup ecosystem is the removal of the angel tax to ease the pressure on early-stage startups and investors. Additionally, the community also anticipates new schemes to boost domestic investments. 

As you eagerly await the announcements, YourStory brings to you all the live updates and news from Union Budget 2024 here.