Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Nirmala Sitharaman is the first woman to present the Union Budget for the ninth consecutive time, making her mark in the country’s Parliamentary history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. “This is registered as a proud moment in the Parliamentary history of the country,” PM Modi highlighted.
FM Sitharaman will present the 15th Budget of the PM Modi government on February 1. This will also be the second full Budget since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power for a third consecutive term in 2024. For the Union Budget 2026, Sitharaman is backed by a strong team of bureaucrats and economists, including several new entrants.
Anuradha Thakur, Economic Affairs Secretary, is widely seen as the key figure in shaping the overall Budget architecture. She leads the Budget Division, which drafts the core documents and frames the macroeconomic strategy for FY2026-27. Her responsibilities include guiding resource allocation, assessing fiscal space, and ensuring that growth priorities align with overall economic stability.
Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran provides the analytical backbone for the Union Budget. His office assesses global risks, projects economic growth, and evaluates sectoral trends across agriculture, industry, and services. It also advises the Finance Minister on major reforms, fiscal policy choices, and long-term financial strategy.
