(This article was first published on 5 July 2019 and has been republished from The Quint's archive in view of the upcoming Union Budget 2020.)
The painstaking secrecy of the Budget is a British legacy, so is the Budget briefcase that the finance minister carries on the day it is tabled.
But in a departure from what was the tradition so far, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 5 July last year, arrived with a red cloth folder (bahi khata or a ledger notebook) instead of the briefcase, to present the Budget.
- 01/02(Photo: ANI)
- 02/02(Photo: ANI)
Interestingly, the word 'budget' originated from the French word ‘Bougette’, which means a leather briefcase.
Traditionally, India’s budget briefcase is a copy of the ‘Gladstone Box’ which is used by the British government. However, while the British finance ministers pass on the briefcase to their successors, their Indian counterparts carry their own.
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Surprised with the departure from the British legacy, Tweeple questioned why the briefcase was missing in action.
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Blast From The Past
Here are photos of former finance ministers holding the briefcase, ahead of the budget presentation.
First Finance Minister Shanmukham Chetty With His Briefcase.
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@IndiaHistorypic)
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