As India prepares for the presentation of Budget 2026, the nation’s attention turns toward Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. On Sunday, February 1, 2026, she will deliver her ninth consecutive budget speech, an event that serves as the economic compass for the coming year.
However, the Union Budget is much more than a collection of financial statistics and tax adjustments. It is a process steeped in unique traditions, colonial history, and high-stakes secrecy. From the evolution of the “Bahi-Khata” to the mystery of the “Blue Sheet,” here are the fascinating facts you probably didn’t know about India’s budget process.
Budget 2026
For decades after independence, India followed a colonial-era schedule for its budget. The speech was traditionally delivered at 5:00 PM on the last day of February.
This specific timing was designed to accommodate British officials in London, allowing them to follow the proceedings during their working hours. This changed in 1999, when then-Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha moved the speech to 11:00 AM. This shift was practical, giving Indian officials more time to analyze the numbers on the same day.
Budget 2026 Release
Another major change occurred in 2017. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley broke the tradition of presenting the budget at the end of February.
By moving the date to February 1, the government ensured that the budget could be passed and implemented by the start of the new financial year on April 1. This gave departments a full head start on their annual planning.
The “Bahi-Khata”
If you look at old photos of past Finance Ministers, you will notice a common accessory: a red briefcase. This was a practice inherited directly from the British “Budget Box” tradition.
In 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman officially retired the briefcase, replacing it with the Bahi-Khata. This traditional Indian ledger, wrapped in red cloth, was a symbolic nod to Indian culture and the history of Indian merchants.
By 2021, the tradition evolved again due to the pandemic. The budget became fully digital. To maintain the cultural connection, the tablet used for the speech was still housed in a red Bahi-Khata-style cover, blending modern technology with ancient heritage.
Record-Breaking Budget Speeches
The budget speech is a marathon of endurance and detail. Finance Ministers have set various records over the decades regarding how they deliver their messages:
- Longest Speech (Time): Nirmala Sitharaman holds the record for the longest speech in 2020, which lasted 2 hours and 42 minutes.
- Most Words: In 1991, Manmohan Singh delivered a speech containing 18,650 words, which remains the highest word count in history.
- Shortest Speech: In 1977, Morarji Desai gave a concise speech of only 800 words.
Secrets of North Block
One of the most intense parts of the budget preparation is the “Lock-in Period”. To prevent any information leaks that could affect the markets, officials involved in the printing process are completely isolated from the world.
During this time, they have no access to phones, internet, or even their families. This period begins after the traditional Halwa Ceremony, a celebratory event held at the North Block where a large batch of halwa is prepared and served to the staff.
What is “Blue Sheet”?
Among all the documents prepared for the Union Budget, the Blue Sheet is the most guarded. It is a single sheet of paper, color-coded in blue, that contains the summary and core calculations of the entire budget.
The secrecy surrounding the Blue Sheet is so strict that even the Finance Minister is not permitted to take it out of the North Block. It serves as the ultimate master document from which all other budget figures are derived.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The shift from colonial legacies to the Bahi-Khata reflects a welcome respect for our cultural heritage,. At The Logical Indian, we believe the true merit of Budget 2026 lies not just in symbolic traditions or the secrecy of the Blue Sheet, but in its empathy for the common citizen.
We advocate for a financial roadmap prioritizing positive social change and economic harmony,. Ultimately, the budget must foster kindness and coexistence to ensure progress for all
