Did a 6-ft artwork of Nirmala Sitharaman emerge for Budget Day?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Amroha, Feb 1 (NationPress) An artist from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, Juhaib Khan, has created a remarkable six-foot sketch of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on a wall, coinciding with the presentation of the Union Budget 2026.
In conversation with IANS, Juhaib Khan expressed, “I focus on creating paintings that reflect real-life events using charcoal. With Sitharaman presenting the budget for the ninth time today, I felt inspired to create this six-foot sketch of her.”
The artwork features elements like wheat grains, a joyful family, and a soldier ready for battle, among other symbols. “Through this sketch, I aim to convey my hopes for the nation’s continuous progress and achievement of greater heights,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the Cabinet approved the Union Budget 2026-27 during a meeting held in Parliament, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Cabinet convened at Sansad Bhawan at 10 a.m., and following the approval, Nirmala Sitharaman made her way to Parliament to officially present the Budget.
Before her presentation, FM Sitharaman met with President Droupadi Murmu and presented her a copy of the digital budget.
The President welcomed Sitharaman with 'dahi-cheeni' (curd and sugar) upon her arrival at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Finance Minister was seen carrying her signature bahi-khata, a tablet wrapped in a red cloth adorned with a golden national emblem.
Accompanying her were Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Economic Advisor Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran, and CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal, along with other officials.
This marks Sitharaman's ninth consecutive presentation of the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha. In 2021, she transitioned to using a digital tablet for carrying Budget documents, further endorsing a modern and eco-friendly initiative.
The bahi-khata serves as a red pouch holding the digital tablet containing the Budget documents.
FM Sitharaman initially replaced the traditional leather briefcase, a remnant from British times, with the bahi-khata in 2019.
Two years later, she adopted the digital tablet for carrying the Budget papers, reinforcing her commitment to a modern and environmentally conscious approach.
This year, Sitharaman chose to don a deep maroon Kanjeevaram saree from Tamil Nadu, which featured a rich maroon base complemented by a contrasting border and delicate gold detailing, paired with a yellow blouse.