Wed Jan 29 14:28:36 IST 2025: ## Prime Ministers Who Presented India’s Union Budget: A Historical Look
**New Delhi** – While the Finance Minister typically presents India’s Union Budget to the Lok Sabha, several Prime Ministers have taken on the task in exceptional circumstances. This rare event, mandated under Article 112 of the Constitution, has occurred several times in India’s history, each instance marked by the resignation of the incumbent Finance Minister.
Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister to present the Budget in 1958, stepping in after the resignation of T.T. Krishnamachari amidst the Mundhra scandal. Nehru famously acknowledged the unusual situation at the start of his speech.
Morarji Desai followed suit in 1978, presenting the Budget after the resignation of C. Subramaniam. Indira Gandhi also presented the Budget in 1970 following the resignation of Morarji Desai from the Finance Ministry in 1969. Rajiv Gandhi further added to this list, presenting the 1987-88 Budget after V.P. Singh’s resignation.
This year marks a different scenario, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to present her eighth consecutive Union Budget, highlighting the usual process. The historical instances where Prime Ministers presented the Budget serve as a reminder of the extraordinary circumstances that can sometimes necessitate such a deviation from tradition.
First Piper 