The Pioneers: How Women Shaped India’s Union Budget History
Presenting the Union Budget remains one of the most powerful tasks in the Indian government. It allows the Finance Minister to define the country’s economic vision for the year. While men have historically dominated this role, two women have broken through to leave a lasting mark on India’s financial story.
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Indira Gandhi: The First Trailblazer
Actually, the first woman to present the Union Budget was Indira Gandhi. In July 1969, she took charge of the Finance Ministry while already serving as Prime Minister. This move followed the resignation of Morarji Desai. Consequently, on February 28, 1970, she stood in Parliament to deliver the 1970–71 Budget. Specifically, her policies focused on socialist growth and agricultural self-reliance. At that time, she aimed to reduce economic inequality while the country struggled with high inflation.
Nirmala Sitharaman: The Record-Breaker
For nearly five decades after Gandhi, no other woman held the finance portfolio. However, this changed in 2019 when Nirmala Sitharaman became India’s first full-time woman Finance Minister. Since then, she has transformed the budget presentation from a mere speech into a series of historical milestones.
Bahi-Khata over Briefcase: She famously ditched the colonial-era leather briefcase for the traditional red bahi-khata.
Going Digital: In 2021, she presented the first-ever paperless Budget via a digital tablet.
Marathon Speeches: She holds the record for the longest budget speech in Indian history, lasting 2 hours and 42 minutes.
A Historic Sunday in 2026
As we head into February 1, 2026, Sitharaman is set to create history again. Because she will present her ninth consecutive Budget, she will become the only person to achieve such a long uninterrupted run. Interestingly, this year’s presentation falls on a Sunday. Consequently, for the first time in independent India, the Parliament will convene on a weekend for the Union Budget. Ultimately, her ninth budget moves her closer to Morarji Desai’s all-time record of 10 budget presentations.
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