On February 1, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman began presenting the country's 2026 budget in Parliament. This is her ninth consecutive budget, and along with the economic announcements, her 'budget look' has also become a topic of discussion this time. As every year, the saree worn by Nirmala Sitharaman this year is not just limited to fashion but has proven to convey Indian tradition, culture, and meaningful messages.
This year, on budget day, Nirmala Sitharaman wore a handwoven eggplant-colored Kanchivaram silk saree. This saree is considered a symbol of Tamil Nadu's ancient and rich weaving tradition. The saree features light golden checks, with a coffee brown border adorned with delicate golden thread work. This saree beautifully showcases the blend of traditional beauty and simplicity.
The eggplant color chosen by Nirmala Sitharaman is not only aesthetically appealing but also has a deep social meaning. The color eggplant is considered a symbol of women's empowerment, dignity, justice, and equality. This color is associated with International Women's Day and women's rights movements. Therefore, attention has been drawn to whether this year's budget will include special provisions for women's education, health, employment, or financial assistance. Many perceive a suggestive message about the budget's policies through this color.
During last year's 2025 budget, Nirmala Sitharaman wore an off-white silk saree adorned with the famous Madhubani art of Bihar. This saree was gifted to her by the renowned Padma award-winning Madhubani artist Dulari Devi. The saree featured a 'fish' design, which is considered a symbol of happiness, prosperity, and development. At that time, her saree also attracted attention across the country.
Nirmala Sitharaman was born on August 18, 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She graduated in Economics from Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, Tiruchirappalli, and completed her postgraduate studies in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Before entering politics, she worked in the corporate sector. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2006. In 2014, she was appointed as a minister in the Modi government. In 2017, she became the Defense Minister of India and has been serving as the Finance Minister of the country since 2019.