New Delhi: On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman led the fourth Pre-Budget Consultation meeting, engaging with stakeholders and experts from the export, trade, and industry sectors as part of the preparations for the Union Budget 2025-26.
The Ministry of Finance shared on social media, "Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman chairs the fourth Pre-Budget Consultation with stakeholders and experts from the export, trade, and industry sectors regarding the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26, in New Delhi, today."
The meeting included the participation of Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, the Finance Secretary, the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, the Secretary of DIPAM (Department of Investment and Public Asset Management), and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with a group of distinguished economists and thought leaders at the NITI Aayog premises to prepare for the Union Budget 2025-26.
Additionally, on December 20 in Jaisalmer, Sitharaman convened a pre-budget meeting with finance ministers from States and Union Territories.
Alongside MoS Pankaj Chaudhary, the meeting was attended by Chief Ministers from Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya, and Odisha, as well as Deputy Chief Ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Finance Ministers from States/UTs, Secretaries of the Departments of Economic Affairs and Expenditure, and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance were also present.
Sitharaman has conducted a series of discussions with a range of stakeholders, including representatives from MSMEs, farmers' organizations, and economists.
The Finance Ministry holds numerous pre-Budget consultation meetings each year with experts, industry leaders, economists, and state officials. The formal process for drafting the annual Budget for the upcoming financial year is already underway.
In line with tradition, the Budget for 2025-26 is scheduled to be presented on February 1, 2025. This will be Nirmala Sitharaman's eighth budget presentation.
Attention will be focused on the significant announcements and the government's economic outlook for the remainder of the Modi 3.0 administration.
