Who is part of Sitharaman’s ‘war room’ for Budget 2026?
As the nation awaits the unveiling of the Union Budget 2026, the anticipation is palpable. The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has been working tirelessly to craft a budget that will shape the country’s economic trajectory for the upcoming fiscal year. Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of officials has been toiling away, drafting and refining the budget. This team is often referred to as the ‘war room’, and it comprises some of the most experienced and skilled individuals in the Ministry of Finance.
At the helm of this ‘war room’ is Economic Affairs Secretary, Anuradha Thakur. As the secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Thakur plays a crucial role in shaping the country’s economic policies. Her expertise in macroeconomic management, fiscal policy, and international economics makes her an invaluable asset to the team. Thakur has been instrumental in drafting the budget, ensuring that it aligns with the government’s overall economic vision.
Another key member of the ‘war room’ is Revenue Secretary, Arvind Srivastava. As the head of the Revenue Department, Srivastava is responsible for mobilizing resources for the government. His expertise in taxation, customs, and central excise has been crucial in shaping the budget’s revenue projections. Srivastava has been working closely with Thakur to ensure that the budget’s revenue estimates are realistic and achievable.
Expenditure Secretary, V Vualnam, is also part of the ‘war room’. As the secretary of the Department of Expenditure, Vualnam is responsible for overseeing the government’s spending. His expertise in public finance, budgeting, and financial management has been vital in allocating resources to various sectors. Vualnam has been working closely with Thakur and Srivastava to ensure that the budget’s expenditure allocations are aligned with the government’s priorities.
Financial Services Secretary, M Nagaraju, is another important member of the team. As the secretary of the Department of Financial Services, Nagaraju is responsible for regulating and supervising the country’s financial sector. His expertise in banking, insurance, and pension has been crucial in shaping the budget’s financial sector proposals. Nagaraju has been working closely with the other members of the ‘war room’ to ensure that the budget’s financial sector initiatives are aligned with the government’s overall economic vision.
In addition to these secretaries, the ‘war room’ also includes other key officials. DIPAM Secretary, Arunish Chawla, is responsible for overseeing the government’s disinvestment program. Public Enterprises Secretary, Moses Chalai, is responsible for overseeing the performance of public sector enterprises. Chief Economic Adviser (CEA), V Anantha Nageswaran, provides critical economic analysis and advice to the team.
The ‘war room’ has been working tirelessly to craft a budget that will address the country’s pressing economic challenges. With their collective expertise and experience, the team is well-equipped to draft a budget that will drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the overall standard of living for citizens.
As the budget is set to be unveiled, the nation is eagerly awaiting the announcements that will shape the country’s economic future. The ‘war room’ has done its job, and now it’s up to the government to implement the budget’s proposals. The success of the budget will depend on the effective implementation of its proposals, and the ‘war room’ will continue to play a crucial role in monitoring and evaluating the budget’s progress.
In conclusion, the ‘war room’ behind the Union Budget 2026 is a team of dedicated and experienced officials who have worked tirelessly to craft a budget that will drive economic growth and improve the lives of citizens. With their collective expertise and experience, the team is well-equipped to draft a budget that will address the country’s pressing economic challenges. As the nation awaits the unveiling of the budget, one thing is certain – the ‘war room’ has done its job, and now it’s up to the government to implement the budget’s proposals.
News source: https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/whos-in-nirmala-sitharamans-union-budget-2026-war-room-13973100.html/amp
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