Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget day sarees over the years

Over the years, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget Day attire has frequently featured regional weaves and traditional textile art. Here is a year-by-year reference guide to her saree choice

Feb 01, 2026, 12:17 IST2 min

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Budget 2026| Handwoven Kanjeevaram silk saree from Tamil Nadu. For the Union Budget 2026 presentation, Nirmala Sitharaman wears a handwoven Kanjeevaram silk saree from Tamil Nadu, continuing her practice of showcasing traditional Indian handloom weaves on Budget Day. The saree is maroon-purple in tone, with subtle golden checks and a brown border, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage associated with Kanjeevaram silk. Photo by Altaf Hussain / Reuters

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Budget 2025 | Off-white saree with Madhubani artwork from Bihar. For the 2025 Budget presentation, the Finance Minister wore an off-white saree featuring Madhubani-style artwork and a gold-toned border. The saree was gifted by Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi, a Madhubani artist from Bihar, during an official visit to the Mithila Art Institute. Sitharaman chose to wear it on Budget Day, highlighting a recognised folk art tradition from the region.
The Bihar-origin saree drew attention as the state went to elections that year. Photo by Salman Ali/HT via Getty Images

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Budget 2024 | Off-white Mangalagiri weave with coloured border from Andhra Pradesh. For the full Budget presented in July 2024, Sitharaman wore a Mangalagiri handloom saree from Andhra Pradesh. The Budget speech included support for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, including infrastructure and development commitments, with Andhra projects specifically referenced. Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

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Budget 2024 - Interim Budget | Blue Kantha saree from West Bengal.
For the Interim Budget presented in February 2024, the Finance Minister wore a blue saree featuring Kantha stitch embroidery, a traditional hand embroidery style from West Bengal known for its detailed threadwork and nature-inspired motifs. Presented ahead of the general election; some media noted the West Bengal weave reference, though no official link was stated. Photo by Anushree Fadnavis / REUTERS

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Budget 2023| South Indian red silk with temple border.
For the 2023 Budget, Sitharaman wore a red silk saree with a traditional temple-style border in black and gold, a design widely associated with South Indian handloom traditions. Photo by Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

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Budget 2022| Bomkai handloom weave from Odisha.
In 2022, Sitharaman chose a Bomkai saree from Odisha, recognised for its intricate woven borders and traditional motifs from the Ganjam region. Photo by Prakash SINGH / AFP

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Budget 2021 | Pochampally ikat from Telangana.
For the 2021 Budget, Sitharaman wore a Pochampally ikat saree from Telangana, featuring geometric dyed-yarn patterns created through a resist-dye technique before weaving. Photo by Prakash Singh/ AFP

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Budget 2020 | Yellow silk saree with contrasting border.
In 2020, Sitharaman wore a bright yellow silk saree with a contrasting border. Photo by Ajay Aggarwal/HT via Getty Images

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Budget 2019 | Pink Mangalagiri saree.
First Budget presentation For her first Budget presentation in 2019, Sitharaman wore a pink Mangalagiri saree with a gold border. This Budget also marked the shift away from the Budget briefcase to the Indian-style bahi-khata. Photo by Ajay Aggarwal/HT via Getty Images