Budget 2026: The Key Architects Behind FM Sitharaman’s Landmark Ninth Budget
New Delhi : As the nation awaits the presentation of the Union Budget 2026, attention has shifted toward the elite circle of technocrats and policymakers assisting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Tasked with crafting her ninth consecutive fiscal roadmap, this core team is operating under intense scrutiny as they attempt to balance fiscal discipline with the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.
According to reports from major news agencies, The preparation of the 2026-27 Union Budget is led by a specialized team of technocrats, with Anuradha Thakur, the first woman to head the Department of Economic Affairs, acting as its primary architect. She is closely supported by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran, who provides the foundational growth projections and sectoral analyses through the Economic Survey. On the revenue side, Arvind Shrivastava manages the critical direct and indirect tax proposals, while Vumlunmang Vualnam serves as the guardian of the purse, overseeing government expenditure and fiscal discipline.
Also read : Budget 2026 : What To Expect On Taxes, Growth And Key Sectors
Complementing these efforts, Arunish Chawla and K. Moses Chalai focus on the public sector, managing disinvestment targets and monitoring the capital expenditure of state-owned enterprises respectively. Finally, M. Nagaraju directs the Department of Financial Services, ensuring the stability of public sector banks and driving the government’s social security and financial inclusion programs. Together, these seven officials form the intellectual and administrative backbone of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth budget.
Journalists covering the Finance Ministry indicate that the synergy between these advisors is what allows for the continuity seen in Sitharaman’s previous tenures. As the “Halwa Ceremony” traditionally signals the final printing phase, the collective expertise of these officials remains the backbone of the government’s economic vision. With the global community watching, the contributions of these key strategists will determine if the 2026 Budget can successfully insulate India from trans-Atlantic trade tensions while fostering domestic growth.