In A First Since Independence, Union Budget 2021 To Go Paperless; MPs To Get Soft-Copies

The Union Finance Ministry has a tradition of printing the union budget annually in its in-house press. Around 100 employees of the ministry have to stay together for almost 15 days until the papers are printed, sealed and delivered on the day of the Budget.

However, taking into consideration the Covid-19 pandemic, this year the union budget papers will not be printed for the first time since the Independence, reports Economic Times.

Instead, the government has decided to distribute soft copies of the Union Budget to all members of Parliament. The budget session of the Parliament will be held in two phases from 29 January to 8 April. The first leg will last from 29 January- 15 February and the second part will be conducted from 8 March- 8 April.

The winter session of the Parliament did not take place due to the rising cases of Covid-19 in the country last year.

“The Budget papers - the Union Budget and Economic Survey - will not get printed, soft copies will be provided,” an official was quoted in the report as saying.