The first Union Budget of independent India was presented on November 26, 1947, by R. K. Shanmukham Chetty, India's first Finance Minister.
In 2020, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the longest budget speech, lasting 2 hours and 42 minutes!
The Budget printing process begins with the Halwa Ceremony, a tradition symbolising the confidentiality of the process.
In 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman replaced the traditional briefcase with a red cloth folder (Bahi Khata) to present the Budget.
Historically, the highest allocation goes to defence and infrastructure, reflecting India’s strategic priorities.
Until 2016, the Budget was presented on the last working day of February. The date was shifted to February 1 for better implementation of policies.