Archive · 21 Nov 2025
Pre-Budget Consultations: Finance Minister Meets Trade Unions, IT Sector
India's Finance Minister talked to different groups of people before making the country's budget.
She met with labor unions to discuss worker rights and pay.
She also met with the tech industry to talk about job changes and computer skills.
For the first time, she met with startup founders to discuss tax rules for their employees.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held pre-budget consultations with trade union representatives and labour organizations
The meeting discussed wages, social security, employment generation, and worker welfare
Similar consultations were held with representatives from banking, hospitality, IT, and startup sectors
The IT sector discussed global uncertainties, building computing capacities, and skilling initiatives
Startups were invited for the first time, discussing ESOP taxation reform
- Who
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, trade union representatives, IT sector leaders, startup founders
- What
- Held pre-budget consultations
- When
- Thursday (labor unions), Wednesday (IT sector), Tuesday (startups)
- Where
- New Delhi
- Why
- To gather inputs for the Union Budget 2026-27
Pro-Worker Reforms
Status Quo Supporters
Minimum Wage Increase
Pro-Worker Reforms
Labor unions pushed for higher minimum wages
Status Quo Supporters
Some businesses may argue against significant increases
- Budget Presentation Date
- February 1, 2026
- Minister Present
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
- Other Ministers Present
- Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary
Sources
Hospitality & tourism sectors demand ‘industry’ status
Hospitality industry raises single-window clearance for licences, other reforms in pre-Budget meet
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Holds Consultations With Trade Union Representatives & Labour Organisations
Sitharaman chairs Pre-Budget Consultation with experts from infra, energy sectors
