New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth consecutive Union Budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. The budget speech, which was a big boost for taxpayers, lasted for 1 hour and 14 minutes—shorter than last year’s 1 hour and 25 minutes. 

Tracking Sitharaman’s Budget speeches over the years: 

  • 2024: The speech lasted 1 hour and 25 minutes, Interim budget: 56 minutes
  • 2023: Completed in 1 hour 27 minutes.
  • 2022: The budget speech lasted 1 hour 30 minutes.
  • 2021 (First Paperless Budget): Presented using a tablet wrapped in a traditional ‘bahi-khata’ pouch, the speech lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes.
  • 2020 (Record Year): Setting a record for the longest speech in Indian history, Sitharaman spoke for 2 hours and 42 minutes. She paused midway due to feeling unwell, requiring a break to stabilise her health.
  • 2019 (First Budget Speech): As India’s first full-time female Finance Minister, her inaugural speech lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes, with occasional switches to Hindi, Tamil, Urdu, and Sanskrit. She didn't stop for a water break during the speech.