In 2019, the Union Budget was presented in a traditional 'bahi-khata' rather than a leather briefcase. It was the first time since independence that any Finance Minister had 'opted out' of a briefcase or a hardbound leather bag.
Like the previous Union Budget, Nirmala Sitharaman, has this time too, replaced the Budget briefcase — the iconic briefcase used by former finance ministers — with the traditional 'bahi khata' in keeping with Indian tradition.
The 'budget case' tradition started in the 18th century, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer or Britain's budget chief was asked to 'open the budget' while presenting his annual statement.
