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Sunday, January 4, 2026
TopicFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Topic: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Nirmala Sitharaman is an Indian politician with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), and has served as Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs since 2019 (this is as of March 2024). In the first Modi government, Sitharaman served as the Minister of Defence between 2017 and 2019, thereby becoming India’s second female defence minister and the second female finance minister after Indira Gandhi, and the first full-time female minister to hold each of those portfolios.

Sitharaman first joined the BJP in 2004 and was appointed party spokesperson six years later. She was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2014. While presenting her first budget, she made a statement by replacing the traditional budget briefcase with a ‘bahi-khata’ with the National Emblem to carry the speech and other documents.

Nirmala Sitharaman tables Economic Survey 2024-25, Parliament adjourned for the day

ANI -
The document gives insights into the state of economy, and outlook for the next fiscal. The Union Budget will be presented on Saturday.

4 revenue secretaries in 4 weeks. Modi govt’s quest for ‘committed bureaucracy’ continues

D.K. Singh -
PM Modi evidently reposes more faith in serving and retired bureaucrats than in politicians. IAS officers must, however, be taking it with a pinch of salt.

‘Free’ electricity for the coop & the new economics of equality

ThePrint Team -
The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

How she likes her popcorn: Fresh, hot & taxed

ThePrint Team -
The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

Time to break out the (caramelised) popcorn

ThePrint Team -
The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

Why X users are congratulating Nirmala Sitharaman over world chess champion D Gukesh’s win

Mrinalini Dhyani -
At just 18, D Gukesh has claimed the World Chess Championship title by defeating China's Ding Liren, making a whopping Rs 11.45 crore in prize money.

Karnataka Police lodge FIR against Sitharaman, BJP leaders & ED officers over poll bond ‘extortion’

PTI -
FIR registered on special court's orders. Complaint alleges that accused 'committed extortion under guise & garb of electoral bonds', benefited to the tune of over Rs 8,000 crore.

India’s next cabinet secretary, TV Somanathan, is an overachiever with blunt words for pvt sector

TCA Sharad Raghavan -
Somanathan, currently finance secy, will take over as cabinet secy for 2 yrs starting 30 August. A vital adviser to finance minister & close to PMO, he is vocal about views on taxation.

Budget 2024-25 has much to offer the middle class. Can’t be judged on tax exemption alone

Ashwani Mahajan -
Taxpayers with an income of over Rs 10 lakh are complaining that the middle class was largely ignored in the budget. Some fact-checking is necessary to find out if this is true.

Budget boost but many commitments to fulfil — what’s the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act cited by FM

Moushumi Das Gupta -
In budget speech, Sitharaman said Modi govt has made ‘concerted efforts’ to fulfill commitments in Act, which was notified in March 2014, 3 months before Andhra Pradesh bifurcation.
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Opinion

Economy

Wall Street carries big expectations this year after best run since 2009

Denitsa Tsekova -
The concern is not that 2025’s rally was irrational, but that it may be difficult to repeat. Outlooks remain anchored to AI investment and growth without reigniting inflation.

Defence

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

Snehesh Alex Philip -
If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

National Interest

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Shekhar Gupta -
Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.

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