Sat Jan 18 04:52:12 UTC 2025: ## Sitharaman to Present Historic Eighth Budget; Tax Relief for Middle Class Anticipated

**New Delhi, [Date of Publication]** – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her eighth consecutive Union Budget on February [Date in February], marking a historic milestone. The budget session of parliament will commence on January 31st and conclude on April 4th. This budget, under the Narendra Modi 3.0 government, follows seven previous successful presentations, including an interim budget in 2024. Sitharaman also holds the record for the longest budget speech, clocking in at two hours and forty minutes in 2020.

Public anticipation centers on whether the upcoming budget will include tax relief for the middle class, a topic dominating pre-budget media discussions.

Sitharaman’s journey to the position of Finance Minister is a remarkable one. Born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, she earned a Master’s degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University after graduating from Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College. Prior to entering politics, she held positions including assistant to an economist in the UK, senior manager at Price Waterhouse, and deputy director at the Centre for Public Policy Studies in Hyderabad. She also co-founded a school and served on the National Commission for Women.

She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2008, becoming a party spokesperson in 2010. Her political career advanced rapidly, culminating in her appointment as Finance Minister in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Previously, she served as Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs.

Sitharaman is married to Dr. Parakala Prabhakar, and the couple has one daughter. Her rise from a middle-class background to a position of significant political power exemplifies perseverance and dedication.

Read More