Union Budget 2025: When and where to watch Nirmala Sitharaman's eighth speech
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2025 on Saturday, February 1. This will be her eighth consecutive budget and the second full budget of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government during its third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As with recent budgets, the Union Budget 2025-26 will be delivered in a paperless format.
What is the Union Budget?
The Union Budget is an annual financial statement detailing the central government’s expected revenues and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from April 1 to March 31. Since 2019, this comprehensive document, often referred to as the "bahi-khaata," has included details about the government's fiscal policies, spending plans, income projections, and economic strategies.
Date, time and location
Finance Minister Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2025 in the Lok Sabha on February 1 at 11 am.
Where to watch
The live presentation of the Union Budget 2025 can be viewed on:
- Doordarshan and Sansad TV
- Official YouTube channels of the government
How to access Union Budget 2025 documents
After the budget is presented, all related documents will be available on the official Union Budget website, http://www.indiabudget.gov.in. The government also offers the "Union Budget Mobile App" for easy access to budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement, Demand for Grants, and Finance Bill. These resources will be provided in both English and Hindi.
What is the halwa ceremony?
The halwa ceremony, a long-standing tradition in India’s budget-making process since the 1980s, symbolises the final stage of budget preparation. This event marks the point at which the finance team begins the printing process and remains secluded until the budget is presented.
When did the preparation for Budget 2025 begin?
The preparation for the Union Budget 2025 began in October 2024, with the Finance Ministry holding consultations with various departments to assess their financial requirements and projections for the upcoming fiscal year.
Since 2017, significant changes have been made to India’s budgetary traditions. These include merging the Rail Budget with the Union Budget, advancing the presentation date to February 1 and adopting a completely digital format in 2021.