Union Budget 2022: Key things to know

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to present the

Union Budget

for financial year 2022-23 on February 1.


The Budget Session will commence on the same day with the Presidential address at 11 am, followed by the laying of the Economic Survey.

It comes at a crucial time as India is battling the third wave of Covid-19. The government will look to bring out measures that help spur the pace of economic recovery.

Here are some interesting facts to know:
* This will be Sitharaman's fourth budget and the 10th one presented by the BJP government since coming to power in 2014.

* Sitharaman, who made her maiden budget presentation in 2019, shunned the long-standing practice of carrying the speech and budget documents in a briefcase in favour of a 'bahi-khata'.

* For first time in 2021, a finance minister used a handheld tablet to read the speech as budget documents were not printed owing to the Covid pandemic.

* Budget documents contain income and expenditure statement of the Union government along with the finance bill, detailing new taxes and other measures for the new financial year.

*

Union Budget Mobile App

was launched last year or hassle-free access of budget documents by members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public.

* Since coming to power, the Modi government has curtailed printing of the budget copies -- initially cutting copies distributed to journalists and outside analysts and then reducing those provided to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs citing outbreak of the pandemic.

* As part of the ritual, 'halwa' ceremony is conducted 10 days prior to the budget presentation wherein the sweet dish is prepared in a big 'kadhai' (large frying pot) and served to the entire staff involved in the budget making the exercise of the ministry. However, this year the ceremony is being given a go-by amid the prevailing pandemic situation, news agency PTI said quoting sources.

* A small group of staffers will undergo mandatory quarantine for the compilation of the digital budget documents.

* This year too, budget documents will majorly be available in digital form.


(With inputs from agencies)