Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget, becoming the longest-serving finance minister to do so in a single stretch. The Budget is expected to outline measures to support economic growth, maintain fiscal discipline, and introduce reforms to address global trade challenges, including US tariffs.
With the presentation of today’s Budget, Sitharaman moves closer to the record of 10 Budgets set by former prime minister Morarji Desai, who delivered six Budgets as finance minister between 1959 and 1964, and four more during 1967–1969.
Former finance ministers P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee presented nine and eight Budgets, respectively, during their tenures under different prime ministers. Sitharaman, however, retains the distinction of delivering the highest number of consecutive Budgets, with nine straight presentations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Appointed India’s first full-time woman finance minister in 2019 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second-term victory, Nirmala Sitharaman retained the finance portfolio when the BJP returned to power in 2024. She has led the ministry since May 31, 2019, steering the economy through the Covid-19 pandemic and global disruptions. Having completed six years and eight months in office by January 31, 2026, she is set to present her ninth consecutive Budget on February 1.
Several finance ministers have left a lasting imprint on India’s economic history, either through long tenures or multiple Budget presentations. Here’s a snapshot of key figures:
Morarji Desai: Presented the Union Budget 10 times, the highest by any finance minister, though not consecutively.
P Chidambaram: Delivered the Budget on nine occasions, spread across different tenures under different prime ministers.
C D Deshmukh: Among the longest-serving finance ministers, he held office from June 1, 1950, for about six years and two months.
Manmohan Singh: Served as finance minister for nearly five years between June 21, 1990, and June 16, 1996, playing a key role in economic liberalisation.
Additional charge: As prime minister, Singh briefly held the finance portfolio in 2008 and again in 2012.
R K Shanmukham Chetty: India’s first finance minister after Independence.
