Continuing with the tradition, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman poses with the budget document outside Parliament ahead of the Budget 2025 speech

Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Economic Advisor Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran along with other officials were seen accompanying the Finance Minister

Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her record 8th consecutive budget

The budget speech will outline the government's fiscal policies, revenue and expenditure proposals, taxation reforms, and other significant announcements

Meanwhile, the Economic Survey tabled in Parliament on Friday projected India's economy to grow between 6.3 per cent and 6.8 per cent in the next financial year 2025-26

The survey tabled a day before the union budget, highlights that the country's economic fundamentals remain strong, supported by a stable external account, fiscal consolidation, and private consumption

It noted that the government plans to strengthen long-term industrial growth by focusing on research and development (R&D), micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and capital goods. These measures aim to enhance productivity, innovation, and global competitiveness

"The fundamentals of the domestic economy remain robust, with a strong external account, calibrated fiscal consolidation and stable private consumption. On balance of these considerations, we expect that the growth in FY26 would be between 6.3 and 6.8 per cent," it said

The survey noted that food inflation is expected to ease in Q4 FY25 due to the seasonal decline in vegetable prices and the arrival of the Kharif harvest. A good Rabi production is also expected to help keep food prices in check in the first half of FY26. However, adverse weather conditions and rising international agricultural prices pose risks to inflation

President Droupadi Murmu with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a meeting before the latter presents the Union Budget 2025-26, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi

The Finance Minister was seen discussing the contours of the Budget proposals with the President

President Droupadi Murmu offers auspicious ‘dahi cheeni’ to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the meet

President Droupadi Murmu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Finance Ministry pose for a photo ahead of Union Budget presentation