PM Modi Hails Nirmala Sitharaman for Presenting Nine Budgets

By: WE Staff | Monday, 16 February 2026

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Nirmala Sitharaman for being the only finance minister to present nine consecutive budgets
• Modi said it was a matter of national pride and a source of inspiration for women across the country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated it was a matter of national pride that our Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has presented a series of nine consecutive budgets, which has encouraged the number of women achievers across the country.

On February 1st of this year, Nirmala became the sole Finance Minister in the history of India to present a series of nine consecutive budgets.

She is just one budget shy of the all-time record for the number of budgets ever presented by an Indian Prime Minister; that distinction belongs to former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who presented a total of ten budgets during his time in office (though it is worth noting that Desai presented six of his ten budgets from 1959-1964, and an additional four while serving as Prime Minister 1967-1969).

In an exclusive interview with the news agency PTI, PM expressed that this is a significant milestone for our finance minister and one in which we should all take great pride, adding that this accomplishment has inspired countless women throughout India.

Two other former Finance Ministers have presented nine budgets: P Chidambaram (under two different Prime Ministers) and Pranab Mukherjee.