Union Budget 2021: Budget to go paperless, first time in history of independent India

Union Budget 2021: Budget to go paperless, first time in history of independent India

By Administrator_India

Capital Sands

Union Budget 2021 which is scheduled to be presented on February 1 will go paperless as the Finance Ministry has decided not to print the budget documents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Touted to be a historic move, it will be for the first time in the history of independent India that the budget 2021 papers will not be printed. News Agency IANS quoting sources said the government has received permission for the same from both the Houses of Parliament. The decision has been taken as the printing process would require several people to stay at the press for around a fortnight amid the coronavirus fears. The budget documents are generally printed at the Finance Ministry`s in-house printing press in the North Block.

Union budget 2021 may see several conventions being broken as the sources said that the traditional `Halwa` ceremony may also not take place this year or a subdued function may be held with limited gathering, IANS added. This ceremony, which normally starts around January 20, is attended by all the people involved in budget-making, and marks the beginning of printing.

Once printing starts, printing staffers stay inside the press till the presentation of budget. Only a few high-ranked officials are allowed access and that too on the basis of a special identity card. The entire facility, loading-unloading and transportation are manned by the special security forces.

This is not the first time that there would be a change in tradition in the presentation of the budget under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Last year, she did away with a colonial-era tradition of carrying Budget papers in a briefcase, and introduced the Budget `Bahi Khata` or a ledger, enclosed in a red cloth folder and tied with a string.

Related Posts
FM Nirmala Sitharaman: India plans to bring digital currency by next year
FM Nirmala Sitharaman

India plans to launch digital money by 2023, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "The government and RBI are looking Read more

Nirmala Sitharaman US semiconductor firms will increase their investments in India; With incentives 
Nirmala Sitharaman

Nirmala Sitharaman, India's finance minister, met with officials from the US semiconductor sector and asked them to invest more in Read more

Budget bets big on public infra: Subsidy bill falls as Covid concern eases
Subsidy bill falls as Covid concern eases

While presenting the Union Budget on Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed the “overall sharp rebound and recovery” of the Indian economy Read more

FM Nirmala Sitharaman says economic data pointing to rebound
Union Budget 2021: Budget to go paperless, first time in history of independent India

By Administrator_ India Capital Sands Economic data has conveyed a positive message, but sustaining the numbers in the upcoming months Read more

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x