Who is part of Sitharaman’s ‘war room’ for Budget 2026?
As the nation eagerly awaits the unveiling of the Union Budget 2026, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her team have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to craft a budget that will shape the country’s economic future. The Finance Minister’s ‘war room’, which includes officials who drafted Budget 2026, is a closely guarded secret, but sources have revealed the key members of this exclusive team.
The ‘war room’ is a group of high-ranking officials who work closely with the Finance Minister to draft and finalize the budget. This team is responsible for analyzing data, making policy decisions, and ensuring that the budget is aligned with the government’s overall economic vision. The team is led by Economic Affairs Secretary Anuradha Thakur, who plays a crucial role in coordinating the efforts of various departments and ministries.
Other key members of the ‘war room’ include Revenue Secretary Arvind Srivastava, Expenditure Secretary V Vualnam, and Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju. These officials bring their expertise and experience to the table, ensuring that the budget is comprehensive and well-rounded. DIPAM Secretary Arunish Chawla, Public Enterprises Secretary Moses Chalai, and Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran are also part of the team, providing valuable inputs on disinvestment, public sector enterprises, and economic policy.
The ‘war room’ is a dynamic and fast-paced environment, where officials work long hours to meet the tight deadlines. The team is tasked with analyzing vast amounts of data, identifying areas of concern, and developing solutions to address these challenges. The officials in the ‘war room’ are responsible for drafting the budget speech, preparing the budget documents, and ensuring that the budget is presented in a clear and concise manner.
The role of the Economic Affairs Secretary, Anuradha Thakur, is particularly crucial in the ‘war room’. As the head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Thakur is responsible for coordinating the efforts of various departments and ministries, ensuring that the budget is aligned with the government’s overall economic vision. Thakur’s experience and expertise in economic policy-making have been invaluable in shaping the budget.
Revenue Secretary Arvind Srivastava is another key member of the ‘war room’. As the head of the Department of Revenue, Srivastava is responsible for ensuring that the budget is revenue-neutral, meaning that the government’s revenue projections are realistic and achievable. Srivastava’s team works closely with the tax authorities to estimate revenue collections and identify areas where revenue can be increased.
Expenditure Secretary V Vualnam is responsible for ensuring that the government’s expenditure is aligned with its priorities. Vualnam’s team works closely with various ministries and departments to identify areas where expenditure can be reduced or optimized. This involves analyzing data on government spending, identifying areas of inefficiency, and developing strategies to reduce waste and improve productivity.
Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju plays a critical role in shaping the budget’s financial sector reforms. As the head of the Department of Financial Services, Nagaraju is responsible for ensuring that the budget promotes financial inclusion, stability, and growth. Nagaraju’s team works closely with regulators, such as the Reserve Bank of India, to develop policies that promote financial stability and deepen financial markets.
DIPAM Secretary Arunish Chawla is responsible for overseeing the government’s disinvestment program. As the head of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, Chawla’s team works closely with various ministries and departments to identify public sector enterprises that can be divested. Chawla’s team also develops strategies to promote private sector participation in public sector enterprises.
Public Enterprises Secretary Moses Chalai is responsible for overseeing the performance of public sector enterprises. As the head of the Department of Public Enterprises, Chalai’s team works closely with various public sector enterprises to identify areas of improvement and develop strategies to enhance their performance. Chalai’s team also monitors the financial performance of public sector enterprises and develops policies to promote their growth and efficiency.
CEA V Anantha Nageswaran is the government’s chief economic adviser, providing critical inputs on economic policy. As a renowned economist, Nageswaran brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the ‘war room’. Nageswaran’s team analyzes data on economic trends, identifies areas of concern, and develops policies to promote economic growth and stability.
In conclusion, the ‘war room’ for Budget 2026 is a team of highly experienced and skilled officials who are working tirelessly to craft a budget that will shape the country’s economic future. The team, led by Economic Affairs Secretary Anuradha Thakur, includes Revenue Secretary Arvind Srivastava, Expenditure Secretary V Vualnam, Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju, DIPAM Secretary Arunish Chawla, Public Enterprises Secretary Moses Chalai, and CEA V Anantha Nageswaran. These officials bring their expertise and experience to the table, ensuring that the budget is comprehensive, well-rounded, and aligned with the government’s overall economic vision.
News Source: https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/whos-in-nirmala-sitharamans-union-budget-2026-war-room-13973100.html/amp
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