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As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, attention is not limited to policy announcements but also to her Budget Day saree choice. Since her debut in 2019, Sitharaman has consistently worn handloom sarees that highlight India’s textile traditions. From silk to cotton weaves, her Budget Day outfits often feature regional crafts, rich colours and detailed embroidery. Here’s a year-by-year look at Nirmala Sitharaman’s saree choices on Union Budget Day.
Opinion
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CNBC TV18•01-02-2026, 08:31

India's Budget Leaks: From Secrecy to Scandal, A Historical Overview

  • •Recent reports of a Union Budget leak were debunked by the PIB Fact Check unit, clarifying a circulating image was digitally altered from a previous year's document.
  • •Budget proposals are strictly confidential until presented in Lok Sabha; Article 112 of the Constitution refers to it as the 'Annual Financial Statement'.
  • •In 1956, cyclostyled copies of Budget proposals were sold in Mumbai before presentation, leading to arrests and stricter protocols at the government press in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • •Later incidents involved alleged leaks related to excise duty changes for a cigarette company in 1959 and the Supplementary Budget in 1974, though these were not confirmed as breaches.
  • •Concerns were raised in 1980 and 1983 regarding the government raising prices of petroleum products and issuing notifications with revenue implications just before Budget sessions, undermining parliamentary scrutiny.

Why It Matters: India has a history of alleged Budget leaks and impropriety, highlighting the sanctity of the Budget process.

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