Union Budget 2026: From ‘Bahi Khata’ to ‘Blue Sheet’: Five interesting things to know

Explore five intriguing aspects of the Union Budget, from its history to the significance of the 'blue sheet.'

The Union Budget 2026-27 is set to be presented on Sunday (February 1, 2026) by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This will be the minister’s ninth Budget speech and is being keenly watched by citizens and experts to gauge the economic health of the country and its future. 

But the annual financial statement has had a colourful past, from briefcases to ‘bahi khatas’ to ‘blue sheets,’ here are some interesting things to know about it.

Also Read | Key terms that will help you understand Budget 2026

The Budget was historically presented at 5 p.m. on the last day of February, to align with the working hours of the British officials in London. This was changed in 1999 by Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, who announced the Budget at 11 a.m to make it easier for Indian officials to work on it, on the same business day. The new tradition has continued ever since.

The tradition of announcing the Budget on the last day of February was also changed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2017, who delivered it on February 1, to give time to officials to approve the Budget before the start of the new fiscal year on April 1. 

For over 70 years, a red briefcase was used to carry the Budget documents in a nod to the British tradition of doing the same.