Prime Minister Modi Engages Economists Ahead of Union Budget 2026-27

Consultation Meeting with Economists

New Delhi, Dec 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to convene a meeting with leading economists and experts on Tuesday, as part of the preparations for the Union Budget 2026-27.

This gathering is intended to facilitate discussions regarding crucial economic strategies ahead of the upcoming budget. Attendees are expected to include Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, CEO BVR Subrahmanyam, and other notable figures in the economic sector.

The session aims to provide a platform for these experts to express their insights and evaluations concerning the nation's economic landscape.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is anticipated to unveil the Budget on February 1, amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges and US tariff implications.

She has been actively engaging with economists, trade union representatives, and labor organizations to lay the groundwork for the Union Budget 2026-27.

These discussions are part of the ministry's annual stakeholder engagement initiative, with similar dialogues occurring with various sectors, including banking, hospitality, IT, and startups. There has been a strong focus on enhancing growth and generating employment opportunities in agriculture, MSMEs, and manufacturing.

In related news, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has recommended a comprehensive fiscal strategy for the upcoming budget, emphasizing debt stability, fiscal transparency, revenue generation, and efficient expenditure.

A CII statement highlighted that the strategy's foundation is based on the government's goal of maintaining a debt-to-GDP ratio of around 50% (with a margin of 1%) by FY31.

To uphold macroeconomic credibility while fostering growth, it is crucial to keep Central debt at approximately 54.5% of GDP and the fiscal deficit at 4.2% of GDP in FY27.