Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 18: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday chaired the fourth round of pre-Budget consultations, meeting key stakeholders from India’s capital markets as part of the government’s preparations for the Union Budget 2026–27.
The session focused on gathering insights, expectations, and concerns from market participants, ensuring that the upcoming Budget reflects industry priorities and supports sustained financial sector growth. The Ministry of Finance highlighted the meeting in a post on X, emphasising its role in shaping the government’s Budget strategy.
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, and the Chief Economic Adviser were also present during the discussions, contributing to a comprehensive review of the capital market landscape.
This consultation marks part of a structured series of meetings the Finance Ministry is conducting with diverse industry groups. The Ministry resumed its week-long pre-Budget engagements on November 18, beginning with representatives from capital markets, followed by separate sessions with startups and the manufacturing sector.
On November 19, deliberations will involve stakeholders from banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), along with the information technology (IT) sector. The hospitality and tourism industry will meet Sitharaman on November 20, followed by discussions with labour unions. Officials and industry leaders from infrastructure, energy, and urban development are scheduled for meetings on November 21.
The final phase of consultations is set for November 26, when internal government officers and representatives from the social sector will share their inputs.
The Finance Minister initiated the pre-Budget exercise last week by meeting top economists, accompanied by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran and senior officials from the Department of Economic Affairs. She also held discussions with micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) representatives to incorporate their perspectives into the Budget-building process.
These wide-ranging consultations aim to ensure that the Union Budget 2026–27 is informed, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of India’s evolving economic ecosystem.