Budget 2021 Paperless: Covid-19 Impact Budget Traditions, Govt To Go Digital With 'Union Budget Mobile App'

The Union Budget 2021 will not be printed but rather be available on "Union Budget Mobile App" in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Ministry of Finance

For the first time since independence, the Union budget, slated to be presented on 1 February, is going to be completely paperless in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Union Budget 2021 will not be printed but rather be available on "Union Budget Mobile App".

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week launched the new mobile app by the name 'Union Budget Mobile App' for hassle-free access to Budget documents by the MPs and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience.

The decision has been taken as nearly 100 people would be required to stay at the printing press for around a fortnight amid the pandemic fear.

Both the houses of parliaments Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha approved of the initiative. If reports are to be believed, the government had even decided to do away with the customary 'Halwa Ceremony'. The generation-old tradition was on the verge of cancellation before the government decided to go ahead with it on Saturday. 

All about the Union Budget Mobile App

Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), the mobile app facilitates access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill, etc., as prescribed by the Constitution."

The App has a user-friendly interface with embedded features of downloading, printing, search, zoom in and out, bidirectional scrolling, table of contents and external links, etc. It is bilingual (English & Hindi) and will be available on both Android and iOS platforms. 

The App can also be downloaded from the Union Budget Web Portal (www.indiabudget.gov.in). The App has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).

The Budget documents will be available on the Mobile App after the completion of the Budget Speech by the Finance Minister in Parliament on 1st February, 2021.