From Red Briefcase, Bahi Khata To Tablet: How Budget Presentation Has Evolved, Gone Paperless

Over the years, Indian finance ministers have been captured in photographs as they entered parliament carrying a red briefcase for the yearly Budget presentation. However, this tradition underwent a significant transformation in 2019, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman opted for a ‘Bahi Khata,’ bidding farewell to the conventional Budget briefcase. Minutes before presenting the Union Budget on Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman walked out of the finance ministry with a tablet in a red “bahi-khata” sleeve and the national emblem.

Over the years, the budget document has transitioned from the traditional briefcase and “bahi-khata” to a tablet, marking a shift towards paperless operations.

Sitharaman, dressed in a white silk saree with a violet border, and her team took a customary photograph outside her office before proceeding to Rashtrapati Bhawan for a meeting with the President.

What Is ‘Bahi Khata’?

In 2019, Finance Minister Sitharaman ushered in a departure from the iconic budget briefcase, opting instead for a “Bahi Khata” or cloth ledger. This decision aimed to break away from the colonial tradition where British finance ministers used to carry a “Gladstone Box” to Parliament, a practice subsequently replaced by bags and briefcases. India embraced a similar transition.

In the lead-up to the 2019 budget presentation, Nirmala Sitharaman was observed with a red Bahi Khata, a traditional ledger of accounts, instead of the customary briefcase. This departure was interpreted as a symbolic renunciation of the colonial legacy, as the briefcase itself was a vestige of British rule in India, modelled after the ‘Gladstone box’ utilised in British budget presentations.

• Break away from a colonial practice: The briefcase was seen as a remnant of British rule in India. Using the Bahi Khata, a traditional Indian accounting tool, was seen as a way to embrace the country’s heritage and symbolism.
• Connect with the common people: The Bahi Khata is a familiar symbol for many Indians, particularly those in rural areas and small businesses. Using it was seen as a way to make the budget presentation more relatable and accessible to the average citizen.
• Signal a focus on financial inclusion: The Bahi Khata is often used by small businesses and entrepreneurs to track their finances. Using it was seen as a way to signal the government’s commitment to supporting these sectors.

The inaugural union budget of independent India saw its first finance minister, RK Shankmukham Chetty, adhering to the British tradition by transporting documents in a leather portfolio bag. Subsequently, in the following years, various finance ministers opted for distinct briefcases to present the budget.

In contrast, Sitharaman’s choice to utilise the Bahi Khata added an indigenous flair to the budgetary process.

“I thought it was better we move out from the British handhold. And I thought it was good enough to do something on our own. It was easier for me to carry also and very Indian,” Sitharaman said of her decision to use the red silk Bahi Khata.