Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday morning ahead of the presentation of her sixth straight Union budget, which is an interim budget ahead of the general elections.
Sitharaman met the President along with Ministers of State Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad and Pankaj Chaudhary and senior officials of the finance ministry.
Carrying the Budget 2024-25 in a paperless format—a digital tablet wrapped in a traditional 'bahi-khata' style pouch—just like the previous three years, she posed for the traditional 'briefcase' picture outside her office, before meeting the President.
The finance minister went straight to Parliament after meeting President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's last Budget before the general elections is widely expected to contain a mix of measures for the economy and electorally significant segments like farmers and women.
Sitharaman is expected to stick to being fiscally prudent while sprinkling sops for sectors like agriculture and engines of the economy that would create jobs and boost consumption.
—With agency inputs
