Budget 2021 to be Completely Paperless - A First since Independence

The Union Budget papers will not be printed for the first time since Independence, due to Covid 19 pandemic, said sources aware of the development.

Every year, the Union Budget is printed in the finance ministry's in house press, involving nearly 100 employees who have to stay together for nearly a fortnight till the time the papers are printed, sealed and delivered on the day of the Budget.

However, this year, given the Covid 19 pandemic and rise in the number of cases again, the government has decided not to undertake the exercise and share soft copies of the Budget instead.

"The Budget papers - the Union Budget and Economic Survey - will not get printed, soft copies will be provided," an official said.

All members of Parliament will receive the soft copies of the Union Budget, the official added.

The Union Budget will be presented on February 1 by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Budget session in Parliament will begin on January 29 and go on till April 8. The session will take place in two parts. The first will be starting January till February 15 and the second session will take place between March 8 and April 8.

There will be break in between the sessions, from February 16 and March 7. The Budget session will take place after the monsoon session. The winter session of Parliament did not take place due to rising number of Covid cases last year.