President Murmu Offers 'Dahi-Cheeni' to FM Sitharaman Before Budget Speech

• President Droupadi Murmu offered 'dahi-cheeni' (curd and sugar) to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a tradition symbolizing good luck before the Union Budget presentation.
• This marks Sitharaman's ninth consecutive Union Budget, equalling P. Chidambaram's record and surpassing Pranab Mukherjee.
• Sitharaman was accompanied by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Economic Advisor Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, and CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal.
• Before meeting the President, Sitharaman was seen with her signature 'bahi-khata', a tablet wrapped in red cloth.
• She will present the estimated receipts and expenditures for 2026-27 and table statements under the FRBM Act, 2003.

Why It Matters: President Murmu continued a good luck tradition by offering 'dahi-cheeni' to FM Sitharaman before her ninth Budget.