In 2019, Finance Minister Sitharaman made headlines by discarding the iconic budget briefcase in favor of the "Bahi Khata," a traditional cloth ledger.
Sitharaman's shift to the Bahi Khata was a deliberate effort to break away from this colonial legacy and embrace India's own cultural symbolism.
The Bahi Khata, a traditional Indian accounting tool symbolizes the country's heritage.
By choosing the Bahi Khata, Sitharaman aimed to make the budget presentation more relatable and accessible to the common people.
The Bahi Khata is often used by small businesses and entrepreneurs which symbolizes financial inclusion.
In a nod to the Digital India initiative, she presented the budget in 2021, 2022, and 2023 using a paperless format with the documents enclosed in a red pouch reminiscent of the Bahi Khata style.
The shift to a tablet was not just a technological choice but a strategic step in support of the Digital India initiative.
Despite the move to a tablet, Sitharaman maintained continuity by enclosing it in a red pouch reminiscent of the Bahi Khata style.