FM Skips US IMF Event, Prioritises Women's Reservation Bill Prep

By: WE Staff | Friday, 10 April 2026

• Nirmala Sitharaman has canceled her scheduled trip to the United States for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings.
• This has been attributed to her important engagements in India, as per reports.
• Important engagements involve preparing for the Women's Reservation Bill.

The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has called off her US trip, which was planned as part of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring meetings from April 13-18, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

According to sources, the Minister has cancelled because she has commitments back home, including preparing for the Women's Reservation Bill, which is expected to be presented to Parliament on April 16, 2023.

Former IMF Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath confirmed the development in a post on X: "FYI: This one stands cancelled owing to FM's other commitments in India."

Gopinath had earlier said she would moderate a session with Sitharaman at Harvard University's Kennedy School on April 10. The event, titled "India's Economic Strategy in a Multipolar World", has now been called off.

According to the report, the finance minister’s cancellation was based on her need to fulfil domestic obligations, such as preparing the Women’s Reservation Bill, which is planned for introduction on 16 April.

The additional requirement of the finance minister’s preparations and arrangements for a special Parliamentary sitting before the introduction of the Women’s Reservation Bill; and matters related to the formation of a delimitation commission regarding the implementation of 33 percent reservation for women.