FM Nirmala Sitharaman opts for a Kanjeevaram saree from Tamil Nadu on Budget Day

NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget for the financial year 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha today, marking her ninth consecutive Budget presentation.While attention will be on revenue projections, fiscal discipline and spending priorities, Sitharaman’s Budget Day appearance also attracts interest for another reason — her saree. Over the years, the finance minister has consistently chosen handloom sarees for the occasion, using the high-profile moment to spotlight India’s traditional textiles and artisan communities, in line with the government’s “Vocal for Local” push. Ahead of the presentation, Sitharaman posed with her Budget team outside her office at Kartavya Bhavan. This year, the finance minister opted for a magenta Kanjeevaram saree from Tamil Nadu and paired with a yellow blouse and a woollen shawl. In her hands, she carried a tablet enclosed in a red pouch bearing the national emblem, accompanied by the minister of state and the six secretaries of her ministry, underscoring the continued shift to a paperless Budget format. Last year, Sitharaman had opted for an off-white saree featuring Madhubani fish embroidery, gifted by Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi of Bihar. Paired with a red blouse, the saree highlighted Bihar’s folk art tradition and brought national attention to a regional craft form.Over successive Budgets, Sitharaman’s saree choices have evolved into a quiet tradition, one that brings focus on Indian handlooms and regional textiles while keeping the spotlight firmly on the Budget itself.