Terming the trade deal inked with the European Union on Tuesday a "strategic breakthrough" in India's global trade engagement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the deal safeguards the related sectors while heralding a new era of prosperity by gaining unprecedented access for 99 percent of Indian exports. While posting on social media handle X, Amit Shah said that the India-EU trade deal marks a "defining moment," augmenting India's mission for an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' through win-win agreements, securing a trusted, mutually beneficial, and balanced partnership, reported PTI. Shah wrote, "The India-EU Trade Deal marks a defining moment, securing a strategic breakthrough in India's global trade engagement. Embossing PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's astute diplomatic vision on a global platform, the deal augments India's mission for an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' through win-win agreements, securing a trusted, mutually beneficial, and balanced partnership." Thanking the Prime Minister for the historic achievement and congratulating the people of India, Amit Shah said, "Spearheaded by PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's dictum of 'India First,' the India-EU Trade Deal safeguards the related sectors while heralding a new era of prosperity by gaining unprecedented access for 99 percent of Indian exports, opening a whole new world of opportunities for textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, gems, jewelry, handicrafts, engineering goods, medical instruments and appliances, plastics and rubber, and automobile sectors." The Union Home Minister also highlighted that the deal set a new benchmark for people-friendly trade agreements, besides setting the stage for a boom in the rural economy and a rise in women's participation through securing preferential market access for agricultural exports. In another post on social media handle X, he wrote, "Through the India-EU Trade Deal, Modi Ji launches the global aspirations of our youth to achieve new heights by unlocking opportunities across sectors, creating new jobs, spurring innovation, and enhancing their competitiveness." India-EU trade deal aligns with ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ The home minister also said that aligning with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047', the agreement with the European Union empowers India's talent across Europe by providing independent professionals spread across 17 subsectors with certainty in providing services to EU clients. This trade agreement will create avenues in knowledge-driven trade and facilitate AYUSH practitioners trained in India with the scope to provide services in the EU member states. Earlier on Tuesday, India and the European Union sealed a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) billed as "the mother of all deals," with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top EU leadership unveiling a grand agenda to leverage trade and defense to shore up ties and work towards a rules-based world order. In line with their vision for a rules-based global order, India and the 27-nation bloc rolled out a joint comprehensive strategic agenda for the next five years and firmed up 13 pacts, including one on the conclusion of negotiations for the Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA). (With inputs from PTI)
27 January,2026 09:59 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe women's wing of the Nagpur BJP on Tuesday demanded the registration of a criminal case against singer Anjali Bharti for her alleged derogatory remarks about Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' wife, Amruta Fadnavis, reported the PTI. Bharti, a Buddhist singer who has a YouTube channel, made the highly objectionable comments at a programme in Bhandara district in Maharashtra a few days ago while talking about sexual violence against women, as per the PTI. Demanding immediate registration of FIR against YouTuber Bharti, a delegation of Nagpur BJP Mahila Aghadi including its chief Divyatai Dhurde, Ashvini Jichkar, Prashansha Bhoyar and others submitted a memorandum to the police commissioner in Nagpur. State vice chairman of the SC-ST commission and vice president of the state BJP Dharmpal Meshram, in a statement, also condemned the remarks made by the singer. Meshram also demanded strict action against the singer for passing derogatory remarks on Amruta Fadnavis. Nagpur BJP leader also stated that the police should not allow such programmes in future, reported PTI. Congress backs singer who made derogatory remarks on CM Fadnavis’s wife On the contrary, Congress MLA and former minister Nitin Raut said Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar advocated dignity, self-respect, and equality for women throughout his life, and making such remarks while swearing by his thoughts was contrary to Ambedkar's values. Raut emphasised, "There may be political differences, but we will never accept language that attacks the dignity of women," as per PTI. Amruta Fadnavis slams Sanjay Raut A few days back, Amruta Fadnavis defended the Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM), Devendra Fadnavis, stating that he is not in Davos on a “picnic.” The statement from Amruta came after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is in Davos for a ‘picnic.’ Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Raut had earlier demanded that the travel costs of leaders visiting Davos be made public. Slamming Sanjay Raut, Amruta also said, “I can never understand his (Raut’s) language. But I will say this much: someone who goes for a picnic does not hold conferences and meetings daily from 6 am to 11 pm to bring investment to India and Maharashtra and to boost employment.” (With inputs from PTI)
27 January,2026 08:37 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentTwo deafening sounds resembling loud explosions were reported in central Maharashtra's Beed district on Tuesday. However, the administration has said that there had been no earthquake or seismic activity and the people should not panic or believe rumors, reported the PTI. The first sound was reported at about 9 am, followed by another at 1 pm, prompting people to rush out of houses in some places. District collector Vivek Johnson said that officials immediately contacted Kiran Narkhede, a meteorologist at the Colaba Observatory in Mumbai. Johnson asserted, "He confirmed that no earthquake or seismic activity has been recorded in the Beed district or surrounding areas during these time intervals," as per the PTI. Disaster Management Authority issues advisory The District Disaster Management Authority issued an advisory, asking people to remain calm and not succumb to social media misinformation. Resident Deputy Collector Shivkumar Swami and Tehsildar Chandrakant Shelke further stated that the situation was being monitored. They also highlighted, "There is no reason to panic. We urge citizens not to spread or believe in baseless rumors," reported PTI. Four robbers nabbed after high-speed chase in Beed In a different scenario, Earlier last month, police arrested four members of a gang involved in theft and robberies after a 10-km chase in Maharashtra's Beed district, officials said, reported news agency PTI. Local residents also helped the police in apprehending the accused. The four accused arrived at Kaij in Beed with the intention of committing a robbery while riding stolen motorcycles, but their plan failed. Investigations suggested that the gang had earlier committed bag-lifting thefts in Nandurbar district before entering Beed with the stolen money, the police said, reported PTI. They later attempted a robbery at a bank in Kaij, which failed, forcing them to flee towards Beed city on two unregistered two-wheelers, where they came under suspicion of the local crime branch team, which immediately initiated a chase. While two of the accused were apprehended on the spot, the remaining two were captured after a police chase to Massajog, located around 10 km from Kaij, officials said. Local residents assisted the police in overpowering the accused The police recovered two stolen motorcycles and mobile phones from the accused, identified as Badal Krishna Sisodia (24), Kala alias Hrithik Mahesh Sisodia (29), Deepak Dilip Sisodia (29) and Jaswant Manilal Sisodia (27), all residents of Gulkhedi village in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, the release said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
27 January,2026 08:35 PM IST | Beed | mid-day online correspondentSecurity teams at Cochin International Airport have stopped a major drug smuggling attempt and arrested a foreign national, officials said here on Tuesday. They said around 6 pm on Monday, alert screeners at the Domestic Terminal noticed something wrong with a suitcase belonging to a woman from Togo. The passenger had just arrived from Doha and was planning to fly to Delhi on an Air India flight. When officers took her bag to a separate area for a physical check, they discovered a secret "false bottom" hidden under the lining of the suitcase.Tucked away inside this hidden space were two packets of a banned drug called Methaqualone. The drugs weighed nearly 4 kg and are estimated to be worth about Rs 2 crore. Following the discovery, airport officials immediately handed the woman and the seized packets over to the Customs department.A formal case has been registered against her, and she remained in Customs custody overnight. The Togolese national is scheduled to be presented in court on Tuesday, as officials investigate whether she is part of a larger smuggling network. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
27 January,2026 07:21 PM IST | Kochi | PTIAs many as 60 persons, including 40 soldiers of a Rashtriya Rifles unit, were rescued by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) after they were stranded in a snowbound area in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. According to the PTI, the BRO successfully carried out the high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation under Project Sampark at Chatergala Pass, situated at an altitude of 10,500 ft in the Bhaderwah-Chatergala axis, the spokesman said in a statement. He added that the 118 Road Construction Company (RCC) of the 35 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) began the operation on Saturday, January 24, a day after heavy snowfall, which continued for nearly 40 hours. The heavy snowfall in parts of Jammu and Kashmir covered approximately 38 km of road covered with five to six feet of snow. However, the route was opened by January 25 evening, enabling safe evacuation of 20 stranded civilians and 40 personnel of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), along with weapons and stores, the spokesman said. The rescue mission was completed by the early hours of January 26 with zero casualties, underscoring the professionalism of BRO personnel operating in the challenging high-altitude terrain amid extreme weather conditions, reported the PTI. The statement from the officials further highlighted that the operation was executed in close coordination with the Army, ensuring swift relief and the restoration of critical communication links in the region. Meanwhile, the spokesman also asserted, “The BRO also restored connectivity of strategic roads in the Kandi-Kotranka area of Rajouri district,” PTI reported. Following a spell of heavy snowfall in the Rajouri-Kandi-Budhal area on Tuesday, the BRO undertook immediate and sustained snow clearance operations to restore vital road connectivity in the region. The spokesperson also mentioned, “The snow cover, measuring up to three feet, had disrupted movement along a critical road stretch in the Pir Panjal region, cutting off the Kandi-Kotranka subdivision from Rajouri town.” He further added that the intense snowfall had disrupted military and civilian movement, including medical emergency services. Rescue operation carried out under ‘Project Sampark’ Despite the high operational risks, he said BRO personnel of the 110 RCC of 31 BRTF under Project Sampark carried out sustained day and night operations, deploying specialised snow clearance equipment and manpower. As a result of concerted efforts, a single-lane road was opened initially, enabling controlled vehicular movement. While briefing about the incident, the spokesperson said that the swift response ensured the resumption of traffic within 14 hours, including the movement of emergency and essential services. The statement from the BRO also noted, “Clearance and widening operations continued relentlessly, and the road was further widened to facilitate safer and smoother movement. A total stretch of approximately 35 km was cleared and restored within 24 hours,” as per PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
27 January,2026 06:56 PM IST | Doda | mid-day online correspondentIndia and the European Union announced Tuesday the "mother of all deals", a huge trade pact to create a market of two billion people, reached after two decades of negotiations. EU chiefs and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hope the pact will help shield against challenges from the world's two leading economies, the United States and China. The agreement will cut or eliminate tariffs on almost 97 percent of European exports, saving up to 4 billion euros ($4.75 billion) annually in duties, the 27-nation bloc said. "A mother of all deals," Modi said Tuesday in the capital New Delhi, where he met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. "This deal will bring many opportunities for India's 1.4 billion and many millions of people of the EU," Modi said, adding the agreement "represents about 25 percent of global GDP, and one-third of global trade". The EU has eyed India -- the world's most populous nation -- as an important market for the future. "Europe and India are making history today," von der Leyen said in a statement, a day after she and Costa were feted as guests of honour at India's Republic Day parade. "We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit." - 'Increasingly insecure world' - EU officials said the deal was the most ambitious India had ever agreed, and European companies would benefit from so-called "first mover advantage". Europe's key agricultural, automotive and service sectors stand to gain. But sensitive agricultural sectors, such as beef, rice and sugar whose inclusion in an earlier deal struck with South American bloc Mercosur sparked farmers' anger in Europe, were left out of the agreement. New Delhi sees the European bloc as an important source of much-needed technology and investment to rapidly upscale its infrastructure and create millions of new jobs. It also includes a security partnership, providing "new opportunities" for defence companies, Modi said. "We are not only making our economies stronger -- we are also delivering security for our people in an increasingly insecure world," von der Leyen said, speaking alongside Modi after exchanging agreements. "By combining these strengths, we reduce strategic dependencies, at a time when trade is increasingly weaponised," she added. Bilateral trade in goods reached 120 billion euros ($139 billion) in 2024, an increase of nearly 90 percent over the past decade, according to EU figures, with a further 60 billion euros ($69 billion) in trade in services. Under the agreement, India is expected to ease market access, and European firms will get privileged access to the Indian financial services and maritime transport market, the bloc said. - 'Highest level of access' - Tariffs on cars will be gradually lowered from a top rate of 110 percent to as low as 10 percent -- with a quota of 250,000 vehicles -- while duties on wines progressively go down from 150 percent to as low as 20 percent. Currently at 50 percent, tariffs on processed foods -- including pasta and chocolate -- will be eliminated, according to the EU. Von der Leyen said she expected exports to India to double, and that the EU would "gain the highest level of access ever granted to a trade partner in the traditionally protected Indian market". For India, it would boost sectors including textiles, gems and jewellery, and leather goods, as well as the service sector, Modi said. The accord comes as both Brussels and New Delhi seek to open up markets in the face of US tariffs and Chinese export controls. "The unprecedented preferential access secured for over 99 percent of Indian exports is a game-changer for Indian industry," said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general, Confederation of Indian Industry. India is on track to become the fourth-largest economy this year, according to International Monetary Fund projections. New Delhi, which has relied on Moscow for key military hardware for decades, has tried to cut its dependence on Russia in recent years by diversifying imports and pushing its own domestic manufacturing base. Europe is doing the same with regard to the United States. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
27 January,2026 06:34 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | AFPIndia will remain the fastest-growing major economy in the world, said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ahead of the Union Budget 2026. The statement comes amid recent global uncertainties. The RBI stated that the current state of the Indian economy provides ground for optimism going forward. Also, the GDP growth estimates for 2025-26 indicate that The banking regulator of India has further said that India has made significant efforts to diversify and strengthen its exports, aiming to mitigate external sector risks. RBI, in their monthly bulletin, wrote, “The country is currently engaged in trade negotiations with 14 countries or groups, representing nearly 50 nations, including the European Union, Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the United States,” as cited by IANS. RBI hints at India’s GDP growth The first advance estimates of real GDP growth for 2025-26 reflected the resilience of the Indian economy, driven by domestic factors amid a challenging external environment. Furthermore, high-frequency indicators for December suggest continued buoyancy in growth impulses with demand conditions remaining upbeat. The RBI report also highlighted, “Headline CPI inflation edged up in December but remained below the lower tolerance level. The flow of financial resources to the commercial sector has increased over the past year, with both non-bank and bank sources contributing to the credit pick-up,” as per IANS. Factors indicating growth prospects The month of December saw India concluding trade negotiations with New Zealand and Oman. Last year India also witnessed major economic reforms, including the rationalisation of tax structures, implementation of labour codes for labour market reforms, and financial sector deregulation. All of these reforms and deals are expected to strengthen the growth prospects in the next few years. The Reserve Bank’s 'Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024-25' also underscored the resilience of the banking system, supported by strong capital buffers, improved asset quality, and robust profitability. The Reserve Bank of India in their monthly bulletin also mentioned, “Going forward, the policy focuses on striking a balance between innovation and stability, consumer protection, and a prudent approach to regulation and supervision should help improve productivity and support long-term economic growth,” as per IANS. (With inputs from IANS)
27 January,2026 06:32 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi Traffic Police has issued a detailed advisory ahead of the full dress rehearsal of the Beating Retreat ceremony, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 27, at Vijay Chowk. Traffic restrictions will remain in force from 4 pm to 6 pm to ensure smooth movement of participating contingents and officials, and to maintain security during the rehearsal, a day after the Republic Day 2026. Traffic Advisory In view of Full Dress Rehearsal of Beating Retreat Ceremony on 27.01.2026, certain traffic restrictions will be in place. Kindly follow the advisory.#DPTrafficAdvisory pic.twitter.com/iVLUl3pQqJ — Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) January 26, 2026 The Beating Retreat ceremony will be held on January 29. Vijay Chowk and key roads around to remain closed According to the advisory, Vijay Chowk will be completely closed to general traffic during the restricted hours. Vehicular movement will also not be allowed on several roads leading towards Vijay Chowk. These include Raisina Road from Krishi Bhawan roundabout, Dara Shikoh Road roundabout, Krishna Menon Marg roundabout, and Sunehri Masjid roundabout towards Vijay Chowk. In addition, Kartavya Path, between Vijay Chowk and the Rafi Marg-Kartavya Path crossing, will remain closed to traffic. Alternate routes suggested for commuters The Delhi Traffic Police has advised commuters to plan their journeys in advance and avoid the affected areas during the rehearsal hours. Motorists have been asked to use alternative routes such as Ring Road, Ridge Road, Aurobindo Marg, Madarsa T-Point, Safdarjung Road-Kamal Ataturk Marg, Rani Jhansi Road and Minto Road. Beating Retreat ceremony dates The full dress rehearsal will be held on January 27, while the main Beating Retreat ceremony is scheduled for January 27. The event marks the formal conclusion of the Republic Day celebrations. Republic Day celebrations continue on Kartavya Path Meanwhile, India’s rich cultural diversity, growing capabilities and military strength were on full display on Kartavya Path on Monday during the 77th Republic Day celebrations. The Beating Retreat ceremony comes alive at Vijay Chowk on 29 January 2026. From Veena to Nagada, every instrument has its place as Vijay Chowk transforms into a symphony for the Beating Retreat 2026. A carefully crafted seating layout for an evening where tradition, discipline,… pic.twitter.com/JwmbFI6cWC — Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) January 27, 2026 The main event in the national capital featured participation from a European Union contingent, comprising four flag bearers on three gypsies. They carried the flags of the European Union, the European Union Military Staff, EU Naval Force Atalanta, and EU Naval Force Aspides. Cultural performances President Droupadi Murmu led the celebrations and took the salute of the parade along Kartavya Path, which stretches from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the National War Memorial, according to the ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi began the day by visiting the National War Memorial, where he paid tribute to fallen heroes by laying a wreath. The parade opened with performances by 100 cultural artists, based on the theme ‘Vividata Mein Ekta - Unity in Diversity’, showcasing India’s cultural richness and national unity. (with ANI inputs)
27 January,2026 06:15 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIndia continues to remain the bright spot supported by its strong macro fundamentals, and the government capex may cross Rs 12 lakh crore in Financial Year (FY) 2027. If the capital expenditure crosses the Rs 12-lakh crore mark, it will be a 10 per cent year-on-year growth, an SBI Research report said on Monday, according to the IANS. The nominal GDP growth relevant for budget math is expected to be around 10.5 to 11 percent, with the uptrend in global commodity prices possibly percolating in a higher WPI. Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor of the State Bank of India, said that “a bit slower nominal growth may hurt tax revenues in FY27, requiring better expenditure planning. However, GST rationalisation and reduction in marginal tax rates for personal income tax is expected to cushion the impact of sluggishness in tax base,” the IANS reported. Fiscal deficit to be at 4.2 percent of GDP Based on the above nominal forecast, the fiscal deficit is expected to be at 4.2 percent of GDP for FY27. Whereas, the cost of borrowing from the government is expected to be around 6.8-7.0 percent for FY27 with risk evenly balanced, Ghosh added. Central Government’s borrowing for FY27 is expected to be Rs 11.7 trillion Estimated net central borrowing for FY27 is expected at Rs 11.7 trillion (around 70 percent of FD) and repayment of Rs 4.60 trillion, including Rs 1 lakh crore expected buyback and Rs 1.5 trillion estimated switches, while state gross borrowings may come at Rs 12.6 trillion and repayment of Rs 4.2 trillion. The report further stated, “There is a possibility of scaling down SDLs and hence net state borrowings through meaningful reforms and net center borrowings through higher borrowing through T-Bill issuance. With such large borrowings, the government and the RBI may also have to work together to bring meaningful reforms in the SDL market,” as per IANS. The presentation of the Union Budget 2026 comes against the domino effects of a new emerging order of global turmoil that has been cascading down the workflow of the global financial markets. The report further said that the Union Budget this year may also highlight that states should account for a significant share of general government debt. Also, the state budgets should explicitly chart medium-term, preferably scenario-based, debt-to-GSDP trajectories, aligned with realistic growth assumptions and development needs, rather than relying solely on annual deficit targets. (With inputs from IANS)
27 January,2026 06:03 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Union Budget, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday criticised the Centre, highlighting the serious challenges faced by the country and accused the government of having "completely eliminated constitutionally guaranteed" rights and "weakened constitutional institutions." After attending the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ahead of the Union Budget on February 1, Tiwari stressed that the opposition will collectively raise these concerns with full force. Speaking to reporters, Tiwari said, "The budget is an extremely important document, as it determines the direction and condition of the country. The biggest problem today is that things that were previously hidden are now completely out in the open. This government is completely eliminating constitutionally guaranteed rights. It is weakening constitutional institutions, and people of a particular ideology are being appointed to these positions. This is a serious threat to democracy." He further raised concerns over India's foreign policy, saying, "Today, the situation is such that no country seems to be clearly standing with us. We are unable to determine who our strategic partners are. This situation is extremely worrying for a country like India." Reacting to the Indian rupee hovering around 91.79 today, Tiwari asserted that a fall in the rupee "weakens the country's economic health." "The rupee has reached its historical low, approximately 92. As the rupee falls, the country's economic health weakens. The dangers that were pointed out during Manmohan Singh's time have multiplied many times over today. Along with this, US sanctions, uncertainty in international trade, and the terrible state of pollution at the domestic level, especially in Delhi, have become serious challenges for the country," Tiwari noted. Tiwari also flagged issues in Jammu and Kashmir and other regions, stating, "Claims of normalcy do not match the ground reality in Jammu and Kashmir. The situation in Indore is a matter of concern. In the city that was touted as a model of cleanliness, people are falling ill. Gandhinagar is an area connected to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, so who is accountable?" He emphasised unemployment as the most pressing challenge, saying, "Young people don't understand what their future holds. Employment opportunities are continuously disappearing, and manufacturing and investment are coming to a standstill. The situation is even worse in rural areas. Farmers, labourers, and young people who had left their villages in search of employment are now living in insecurity again. Even getting their names added to government schemes has become difficult." Tiwari added that the opposition will decide on strategies regarding these issues during state-level and alliance meetings in the coming days. "I want to make it clear this is not just opposition from the opposition parties. There is discontent within the government as well. The pressure on institutions and the misuse of agencies have wounded the democratic soul of the country," he asserted. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting today ahead of the Budget session, which will begin on January 28 and run until April 2. The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2. The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1. President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
27 January,2026 05:21 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present a record ninth consecutive budget on February 1, which is expected to contain reform measures aimed at shoring up economic growth amid a volatile geopolitical situation. This will take Sitharaman closer to the record of 10 budgets that were presented by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai over different time periods. Desai presented a total of 6 budgets during his tenure as finance minister in 1959-1964, and 4 budgets between 1967-1969. Former finance ministers P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee had presented nine and eight budgets, respectively, under different prime ministers. Sitharaman, however, will continue to hold the record of presenting the most budgets on the trot - nine straight budgets under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was in 2019 appointed as India's first full-time woman finance minister when Prime Minister Modi won a decisive second term. After Modi came back to power in 2024 for the third time, Sitharaman continued to retain her finance portfolio. So far, she has presented a total of eight straight budgets, including an interim one in February 2024. Here are some facts related to the Budget presentation in Independent India. FIRST BUDGET: The first-ever Union Budget of independent India was presented on November 26, 1947, by the nation's first finance minister, R K Shanmukham Chetty. MOST NUMBER OF BUDGETS: Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai holds the record for presenting the largest number of budgets. He has presented a total of 10 budgets during his tenure as finance minister under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and later under Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. He presented his first budget on February 28, 1959, and presented full budgets in the following two years before presenting an interim one in 1962. This was followed by two full budgets. After four years, he presented another interim budget in 1967, followed by three full budgets in 1967, 1968, and 1969, presenting a total of 10 budgets. SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF BUDGETS: Former finance minister P Chidambaram presented the budget on nine occasions. He first presented the budget on March 19, 1996, during the United Front government led by Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. He presented another budget under the same government the next year and returned to the hot seat when the Congress-led UPA came to power in 2009. He presented five budgets between 2004 and 2008. After a stint as Union Home Minister, he was back in the finance ministry and presented budgets in 2013 and 2014. THIRD HIGHEST NUMBER OF BUDGETS: Pranab Mukherjee presented eight budgets during his tenure as finance minister. He presented budgets in 1982, 1983 and 1984 and five straight ones between February 2009 and March 2012 in the Congress-led UPA government. MANMOHAN SINGH: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presented five straight budgets between 1991 and 1995 when he was finance minister in the P V Narasimha Rao government. LONGEST BUDGET SPEECH: Sitharaman holds the record for the longest budget speech when her presentation on February 1, 2020, lasted two hours and 40 minutes. At the time, she cut short her speech with two pages remaining. SHORTEST BUDGET SPEECH: Hirubhai Mulljibhai Patel's interim Budget speech in 1977 is so far the shortest at just 800 words. TIMING: The Budget was traditionally presented on the last day of February at 5 pm. The timing followed a colonial era practice when the announcements could be made in London and India at the same time. India is 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of British Summer Time, and so presenting the budget at 5 pm in India ensured that it was happening in the daytime in the United Kingdom. The timing was changed in 1999 when the then finance minister, Yashwant Sinha, in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, presented the budget at 11 am. Since then, budgets are presented at 11 am. DATE: The Budget presentation date was in 2017, changed to the 1st of February to allow the government to complete the Parliamentary approval process by March-end and allow implementation of the Budget from the start of the fiscal on April 1. Presenting the Budget on February 29 meant that the implementation could not start before May/June, after accounting for 2-3 months of the parliamentary approval process. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
27 January,2026 05:21 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIADVERTISEMENT
-1769488693330_d.png "Togolese woman held with four kg Methaqualone at Cochin airport. Representational Pic")
