Nirmala Sitharaman Meets Economists Ahead of Union Budget 2026-27

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday started pre-Budget consultations in New Delhi. She begins work on the Union Budget 26-27.

The meeting included top economists who will give their thoughts on macroeconomic priorities, fiscal strategies, and developments in economic and policy processes for the next financial year. The meeting had the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), the Chief Economic Advisor, and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance.

The discussions covered fiscal stability and support for growth, balanced between key sectors. Economists expressed their opinions on balancing capital expenditures, controlling inflation, and raising revenues while getting the economy back on a sustainable growth path.

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During the day, Sitharaman interacted with farmers and farmers associations as part of the consultations. These consultations emphasized the centrality of enhancing income in rural households and improving agricultural productivity through targeted policy interventions.

The pre-Budget consultations is a vital part of the annual financial management system of the Government and provides an opportunity for the Finance Ministry to take suggestions from various sections of society on the Budget - including economists, entrepreneurs, and those who work in various sectors of the economy before finalizing the Budget. This exercise seeks to incorporate policy suggestions that will galvanize long-term economic growth without jeopardizing fiscal policy.

The consultations are the precursor to the Union Budget 2026-27, which will be presented in Parliament early next year and will clarify the Government's economic intentions for the coming fiscal year.