New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman convened the first pre-budget consultations with prominent economists on Monday for the upcoming Union Budget 2026-27. This meeting included Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran, along with other economists and senior officials from the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). The Ministry of Finance shared on X that “Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs @nsitharaman chairs the first Pre-Budget Consultation with leading economists in connection with the upcoming Union Budget 2026-27, in New Delhi, today.” The meeting also featured the Secretary of the DEA and senior officers from the DEA, as noted by the ministry.
As part of the ongoing pre-budget discussions, the government is conducting a series of meetings with industry representatives to collect insights for the forthcoming Union Budget. The dialogue aims to improve the ease of doing business and to extend tax benefits to the last mile. Last month, senior officials from the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) met with Revenue Secretary Arvind Srivastava to present the industry’s recommendations regarding direct and indirect tax policies. PHDCCI CEO and Secretary General, Dr. Ranjit Mehta, indicated that the discussions were centered on taxation and business facilitation, emphasizing the government’s focus on enhancing the ease of doing business.
He noted that specific suggestions had been shared to alleviate liquidity challenges for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).