Budget 2022: 5 Union Budget tradition changes introduced for first time under Modi government

In 2022, there was no traditional Halwa Ceremony being organised by Finance Minsitry. The step was taken to tame the number of Covid-19 cases in the country. 

Since the British era, the Union budget was presented every year on 28 February. However, the date has advanced since 2017, when the then Finance Minister Jaitley presented the budget on February 1, 2017. The presentation date was advanced to make sure that all budget-related processes should be completed before April 1, the start of the new financial year.

Previously, the Central government had introduced two separate budgets - Railway Budget and the General Budget - since 1924. However, the Modi government, in 2016, merged the Railway Budget with the Union Budget. 

 

On February 1, 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had arrived with a tablet instead of a briefcase, to present the first-ever digital budget. The decision was taken after considering the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country. 

 

On July 5, 2019, Finance Minister Sitharaman had also made an appearance with a red cloth bag instead of the traditional briefcase, carrying Union Budget-related documents. 

In 2015, the Modi government had eliminated the Planning Commission and had set up the NITI Aayog. The step also marked the end of the five year plans that came into existence for the first time when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had become the Prime Minister of Independent India. The last five year plan was of 2012-17.