Overview
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the process with a meeting of leading economists in New Delhi attended by the Department of Economic Affairs secretary and the Chief Economic Adviser.
- Economists discussed maintaining fiscal prudence while supporting investment-led growth, improving private capex recovery, and strengthening employment generation.
- A separate session engaged agriculturists and farmer groups on rural incomes, productivity, agri‑infrastructure, better price realisation for farmers, and climate resilience.
- Further rounds this week will bring MSME and manufacturing representatives, with expected focus on credit flow, ease of doing business, and steps to boost domestic production and exports.
- Industry bodies have submitted proposals for tax-system modernization, including faster dispute resolution, TDS simplification and digitised customs, and the Budget is expected to be presented on February 1, 2026.