Ninth straight budget for Sitharaman: Meet the officials who shaped Union Budget 2026-27

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday in the Lok Sabha. This will be Sitharaman's ninth consecutive Union Budget, which is a record among all finance ministers in the history of independent India.

Here we take a look at the backroom team that has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to aid the finance minister in preparing the Union Budget 2026 for the next fiscal year:

Chief Economic Adviser: V Anantha Nageswaran

The 18th Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to the Government of India, V Anantha Nageswaran, is one of the key players behind the Union Budget.

Nageswaran has been aiding the FM with the budget since his appointment to the post in January 2022. His term is set to end next year, in March 2027.

As the country's chief economic advisor, Nageswaran prepares the Economic Survey, which is presented to Parliament as a precursor to the Union Budget.

Economic Affairs Secretary: Anuradha Thakur

Anuradha Thakur, the Economic Affairs Secretary, gives the overall shape to the Union Budget. Thakur is the head of the Budget Division, which drafts the country's macroeconomic strategy and the core Budget documents.

Revenue Secretary: Arvind Shrivastava

This will be the first Union Budget as Revenue Secretary for Arvind Shrivastava. He is responsible for tax proposals within the budget, covering both direct and indirect taxes.

Expenditure Secretary: Vumlunmang Vualnam

Expenditure Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam oversees the expenditure of the Indian government, including the implementation of schemes and the rationalisation of subsidies. He plays a vital role in managing budget deficits and maintaining India's fiscal discipline.

Financial Services Secretary: M Nagaraju

The head of the Department of Financial Services, M Nagaraju, oversees public sector financial enterprises, including insurance companies, banks, and pension institutions. His department oversees social security programmes, credit expansion, and financial inclusion.

Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM): Arunish Chawla

Arunish Chawla, the DIPAM secretary, oversees the country's divestment and privatisation plans. Financial targets that are not based on taxes and instead come from the sale of the government's stakes in public enterprises are handled by the DIPAM.

The inputs provided by the DIPAM Secretary shape the Budget estimates for asset monetisation and inform the government's strategies for managing public assets.

Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises: K Moses Chalai

The Department of Public Enterprises oversees the capital expenditure and financial performance of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs).

It also ensures the efficient use of budgetary support provided to central government-owned firms and ensures that spending aligns with the country's priorities.