Budget 2024: What is ‘Bahi Khata’?See how the budget briefcase evolved

For years, India’s finance ministers have been photographed carrying briefcases as they entered Parliament to prepare their annual budget reports. However, this tradition took a major turn in 2019 when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman opted for ‘Bahi Khata’, bidding farewell to the traditional budget briefcase.

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What is “Bahi Khata”?

In 2019, Finance Minister Sitharaman ditched his iconic budget briefcase in favor of the ‘Bahi Khata’ or cloth ledger. The decision was intended to break the colonial tradition of British finance ministers carrying a “Gladstone box” to Parliament, a practice that has since been replaced by bags and briefcases. India has undergone a similar transformation.

During the preparations for the Budget 2019 report, Nirmala Sitharaman was spotted holding a red Bahi Khata (a traditional account book) instead of a traditional briefcase. This departure was interpreted as a symbolic abandonment of colonial heritage, as the briefcase itself was a relic of British rule in India, modeled after the “Gladstone Box” used in British budget presentations.

• Break away from colonial practices: The briefcase is seen as a remnant of British rule in India. The use of Bahi Khata, India’s traditional accounting tool, is seen as a way of embracing the country’s heritage and symbolism.
• Contact with the general public: Bahi Khata is a familiar symbol to many Indians, especially those living in rural areas and small businesses. Its use is seen as a way to make budget reports more relevant and accessible to ordinary citizens.
• Send a signal to pay attention to inclusive finance: Bahi Khata is often used by small businesses and entrepreneurs to track their finances. Its use is seen as a way of demonstrating the government’s commitment to supporting these industries.

In independent India’s first union budget, its first finance minister RK Shankmukham Chetty carried documents in a leather briefcase, adhering to the British tradition. In subsequent years, finance ministers have chosen to use different briefcases to present their budgets.

In contrast, Sitharaman chose to use Bahi Khata to add a local touch to the budget process.

“I think it’s better for us to leave British control. I think it’s enough for us to do something on our own. It’s more portable for me and very Indian,” Sitharaman said of her use of red silk bashikar Tower said when making his decision.

This traditional budget file container makes its second and final appearance in 2020. However, over the next year this traditional ledger was changed and replaced by a more modern device. In 2021, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget in a paperless format using a domestic tablet.

In 2021, 2022 and 2023, she again brought the tablet to Parliament in a red bag, reminiscent of Bahi Khata style. The choice to adopt tablets is seen as a major step forward in supporting the government’s Digital India initiative.

2024 mid-term budget

Like the three previous full union budgets, the 2024 interim union budget will be delivered in a paperless format. The 2024 interim union budget will be presented on February 1, 2024.

Union Budget Mobile App for Budget Documents

All union budget documents including Annual Financial Statement (popularly known as Budget), Appropriation Demand (DG), Finance Bill, etc. are available on the “Union Budget Mobile App” for easy access of budget documents by MPs and the public in the simplest way Digital convenience form.

It is bilingual (English and Hindi) and available on Android and iOS platforms.

The application can also be downloaded from the Union Budget Portal (www.indiabudget.gov.in).

The budget documents will be available on the mobile app after the Federal Finance Minister completes his budget speech in Parliament.