The journey of Budget briefcase to Bahi Khata

Here's a look at the journey of the budget briefcase through history.

On Budget Day, the finance minister poses with a red briefcase for a photo-op outside the Parliament. This tradition is being religiously followed by all the Union Finance Ministers in India. Credit: PTI Photo

The tradition of carrying the budget papers in a briefcase was given to us by the Britishers. In 1860, then British Budget chief William E. Gladstone used a red suitcase with Queen’s monogram embossed in it. This was called ‘Gladstone Box’ and all the supreme head carried this box during their budget. Credit: Twitter/@PadraigBelton

Gladstone's original budget box was retired in 2010 and is now displayed at Churchill War Rooms. Credit: Twitter/@UkNatArchives

While in Britain, the Budget briefcase passed on from one finance minister to another, Indian FMs used different bags during their tenure. Credit: PTI Photo

India’s first finance minister R K Shanmukham Chetty carried the first Budget briefcase on November 26, 1947. Credit: Twitter/@prasarbharati

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman scripted history by breaking the tradition in 2019. She ditched the colonial legacy of the traditional ledger and opted a ‘Bahi Khata’ to carry budget papers. Credit: PTI Photo

Adapting to the changing times, Nirmala Sitharaman presented a complete paperless Budget in in 2021. Nirmala Sitharaman was seen carrying a 'Made in India' iPad replacing the ‘Bahi Khata.’ Credit: PTI Photo