Union Budget 2025 | Prime Ministers who presented the budget

The Union Budget for the upcoming financial year is all set to be presented on February 1, 2025, by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

'Bougette' — the French term which translated to the English word 'Budget', meaning 'small bag' is the core economic plan driving a developing or a developed economy.

While it is true that finance ministers at the Centre walked into the Indian parliament term wise, holding that 'red suitcase' to announce the Union budget, there have been select instances when the prime ministers of independent India have presented the Union Budget.

Time and again since 1947, different prime ministers took charge of the finance portfolio to announce the budget after finance ministers like T T Krishnamachari and Morarji Desai, among others, tendered their resignations. Jawaharlal Nehru stands out as the very first prime minister of India to announce the Union Budget.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Nehru took charge of the finance portfolio in 1958-59 after the Justice Chagla Commission found Krishnamachari guilty of corruption and he resigned. Several years later, in 1970, the Indian Parliament witnessed the next prime minister reading out the Budget to the members in the House.

Indira Gandhi

Daughter of Nehru, Indira Gandhi presented the Union Budget in 1970 as the prime minister of India, when then finance minister Morarji Desai resigned. She also earned the title of being the first female finance minister (handling the finance portfolio) of India to present the Budget.

Morarji Desai

Morarji Desai was elected the prime minister in 1977, and he comes next in rare list of Indian prime ministers who announced the Annual Financial Statement in Article 112 of the Indian Constitution. Desai served as the fourth prime minister of the country and also holds the record for presenting 10 Union Budgets, of which 8 were annual while two were interim Budgets.

Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi was the next prime minister and another member of the Gandhi family to have presented the Union Budget during 1987-88. This was after VP Singh resigned from the post of finance minister at the time.

Manmohan Singh

The year 1991 comes next in the history of Indian economy and is remembered for the reforms introduced by then finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh under the prime ministership of Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao.

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.