THIS Finance Minister Changed The Budget Presentation Timing From 5pm To 11am, Ditching British-Era Practice

Check out which BJP Stalwart changed the Budget timing from evening to morning, thereby ending years of British-era practice.

New Delhi: Before 1999, the budget used to be revealed at 5 pm on the last working day of February, following a British-era practice. However shifting gears, former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha shook things up by moving the budget presentation to 11 am in the same year.

Reports state that the reason behind the change in Budget presentation timing was the time difference between New Delhi and Westminster, United Kingdom. India is 4.5 hours ahead of British Summer Time.

Sinha, a BJP Stalwart, thought that the switch in timings from evening to morning, would let everyone dive deeper into the numbers and announcements. His idea got the green signal  on February 27, 1999 and for the first time in Independent India's history, the budget was announced at 11 am.

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