Nirmala Sitharaman to present the Union Budget 2024-25 on July 23

The Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25 is scheduled to be presented in the Lok Sabha on July 23, marking the beginning of the Budget Session of Parliament from July 22 to August 12, stated Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her first budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term. Earlier this year, she had presented an interim budget owing to pending Lok Sabha elections.

"Hon'ble President of India, on the recommendation of Government of India, has approved the proposal for summoning of both the Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session, 2024 from 22nd July, 2024 to 12 August, 2024 (Subject to exigencies of Parliamentary Business)," said Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.

Anticipation is high for this budget session following President Droupadi Murmu's promise of significant steps during her address to Parliament. She assured that major economic and social decisions would be announced during the Union Budget sessions. "In the upcoming sessions, this government is going to present the first budget of this term. This budget will be an effective document of the government's far-reaching policies and futuristic vision. Along with big economic and social decisions, many historic steps will also be seen in this budget," President Draupadi Murmu had said during her first joint address at the beginning of the 18th Lok Sabha.

The budget will be presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, the second finance minister to achieve the milestone of presenting six budgets after Morarji Desai. Since July 2019, she has delivered five complete budgets, introducing innovations such as replacing the traditional briefcase with a 'bahi-khata' adorned with the National Emblem to carry budget documents. "Major social and economic decisions will be a highlight,” said Sitharaman, speaking about the upcoming budget.