Leaving the Finance Ministry, Nirmala Sitharaman proceeded to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Droupadi Murmu, carrying her trademark bahi-khata.
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, poised to present her ninth consecutive Union Budget, was photographed outside Kartavya Bhavan on Sunday holding the tablet containing the document in its signature red sleeve.
Leaving the Finance Ministry, Nirmala Sitharaman proceeded to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Droupadi Murmu, carrying her trademark bahi-khata, a tablet wrapped in a red cloth bearing the national emblem. She was accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Economic Adviser Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman Ravi Agrawal, and other senior officials from the finance ministry.
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The Union Cabinet is scheduled to convene shortly to approve the Budget, ahead of its presentation in Parliament at 11 am.
Dressed in a handwoven Kanjivaram silk sari, Sitharaman paid tribute to Tamil Nadu’s rich weaving heritage. The sartorial choice continues her practice of highlighting India’s diverse handloom traditions during Budget presentations, previously featuring textiles such as Mangalgiri, Ikat, Bomkai, Kantha and Madhubani.
Published: 01 Feb 2026, 10:05 am IST
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