Union Budget 2025 | Briefcase to tablet: Journey of Budget presentation in India

The tradition of briefcase, started by Britishers, was inherited in India. In 1860, the then budget chief William E Gladstone used a red suitcase with the Queen’s monogram embossed on it.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting her 8th consecutive Union Budget on February 1.

Over the years, the Union Budget presentation has witnessed many changes. On the day of Budget presentation, the Finance Minister poses with a red pouch outside the Parliament. This tradition has been followed till now by all the Finance Ministers in India.

The journey of Budget presentation in India has been interesting and symbolic. The transition from briefcase to 'bahi khata', and now tablet, has reflected the need to adapt to new technologies.

While in Britain, the Budget briefcase was passed on from one finance minister to another, Indian ministers kept changing bags during their tenure.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley along with MoS Finance ministers Shiv Pratap Shukla, P Radhakrishnan and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das leaves the North Block to present the Union Budget at Parliament. (Union Budget 2019-20)

The tradition of briefcase, started by British, was inherited in India. In 1860, the then budget chief William E Gladstone used a red suitcase with the Queen’s monogram embossed on it. This was called 'Gladstone Box', and all the supreme heads carried this box during their presentations.

India’s first finance minister R K Shanmukham Chetty carried the first budget briefcase on November 26, 1947.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with MoS Anurag Thakur arrive at Parliament to present the Union Budget 2019-20.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at Parliament to present the Union Budget 2020-21.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at Parliament to present the Union Budget 2020-21.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds a case containing a tablet device, during the Budget Session of the Parliament. (Union Budget 2021-2022)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds a case containing a tablet device, during the Budget Session of the Parliament. (Union Budget 2021-2022)

Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at Parliament for the presentation of the Union Budget 2022-23.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds a case containing a tablet device, during the Budget Session of the Parliament. (Union Budget 2023-2024)

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with a red pouch carrying the Budget documents arrives at the Parliament to present the Union Budget 2024-25,

Finance Minister Piyush Goyal with MoS Finance ministers Shiv Pratap Shukla and P Radhakrishnan leaves the North Block to present the interim Budget 2019-20 at Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, Feb 1, 2019. (Photo by PTI Photo)

When the incumbent Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her first Union Budget in 2019, she scripted history by breaking the tradition. Sitharaman replaced the old budget briefcase with 'bahi khata' - a traditional Indian ledger of accounts - dumping the colonial way of carrying a briefcase.

Sitharaman continued in 2020 and presented her budget using the bahi khata again.

However in 2021, for the first time, the bahi khata gave way to a tablet, a move in tandem with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for a 'Digital India.'

The use of the tablet has also made the budget presentation more accessible and completely paperless, as it can be viewed online as well. The Centre also launched the 'Union Budget Mobile App' for lawmakers and public to access Budget documents easily.

Reports at the time said that the tablet was 'Made in India' - an effort to send out the message of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

While bahi khata signified India’s rich cultural heritage, tablet represented the country’s aspirations to become a digital superpower.

Union Budget 2025 | Nirmala Sitharaman, who continues to be Finance Minister, will present her record 8th Union Budget this time. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', reports suggest there might be a tax relief for those making up to Rs 15 lakh per year. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analysis only on Deccan Herald. Also follow us on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.