Finance Minister held fifth pre-budget meeting with industry representatives, stakeholders gave suggestions

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the fifth pre-budget consultation meeting with industry representatives in New Delhi on Saturday. The meeting was held as part of preparations for the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26. In this meeting, the Finance Minister took suggestions from industry representatives. These suggestions will ensure that the upcoming budget addresses key economic priorities and sectoral challenges. The Finance Ministry said in a social media post that "Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the fifth pre-budget consultation meeting with industry representatives in New Delhi regarding the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26".

According to the ministry, senior officials including the Finance Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), and Secretaries of the Department of Economic Affairs and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) were present in the meeting. The Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India put forth his views on the economy during the meeting. A pre-budget consultation meeting is a necessary step related to shaping the budget which promotes economic growth. The suggestions received in these meetings help in meeting the needs of diverse stakeholders.

Earlier on Thursday, Sitharaman had the fourth pre-budget consultation with stakeholders and experts of export, trade, and industry in connection with Union Budget 2025-26. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has held a series of meetings with different stakeholders so far, including MSMEs, farmers' associations, and economists.

Pre-budget consultations are held with industry leaders, economists, experts, and state officials by the Finance Ministry. With the start of the formal exercise to prepare the annual budget for the next financial year, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget for the financial year 2025-26 on February 1, 2025. The budget for the financial year 2025-26 will be the eighth budget of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. In this budget, the gaze of all eyes will now be on the economic advice that the government will put forth for the remaining duration of Modi 3.0.