Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that Nirmala Sitharaman has become the first woman to present the central budget for the ninth consecutive time in the country’s parliamentary history. He described this as a historic achievement.

Before the presentation of the Economic Survey 2026 in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while briefing the media, said that one quarter of the 21st century has passed. The beginning of the second quarter is now underway.

The next 25 years are very important to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047, and the first budget of the second phase of this century is about to be presented.

Prime Minister Modi said that Nirmala Sitharaman is the country’s first woman finance minister to have presented the budget in Parliament nine times in a row. He described this as a moment of pride for the country’s parliamentary history.

Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Modi government’s 15th budget on February 1. This will also be the second full budget after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) returned to power for a third consecutive term in 2024. A strong team of experienced officers and economists, including several new faces, is working with the Finance Minister for the Central Budget 2026.

The Secretary of Economic Affairs is considered to be playing a key role in preparing the entire outline of the budget. She leads the Budget Division, which prepares the main document and formulates the economic strategy for the financial year 2026-27. Her responsibility is to ensure proper allocation of resources, set limits on government expenditure, and maintain a balance between development and economic stability.

The Chief Economic Adviser provides economic analysis for the budget. His office assesses global risks, estimates economic growth, and studies trends in agriculture, industry, and service sectors. He also advises the Finance Minister on major reforms, fiscal policies, and long-term economic planning.

The Revenue Secretary oversees direct taxes such as income tax and corporate tax, as well as indirect taxes such as GST and customs duties. The Budget 2026-27 will be his first budget as Revenue Secretary.

Parliament

The term “Parliament” most commonly refers to the Palace of Westminster in London, the meeting place of the UK’s House of Commons and House of Lords. The current Gothic Revival building was constructed between 1840 and 1870 after a fire destroyed much of the old palace, though the site’s history as a center of government dates back to the 11th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its iconic clock tower, Big Ben.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is not a physical place or cultural site, but a major political coalition in India. It was formed in 1998 under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to create a stable coalition government at the national level, and it has been the ruling alliance in India for much of the time since.