From colonial era briefcase to digital era bahikhata, Budget documents have seen many carriers

Budget briefcase, just as the entire Budget process, was handed over to India by the British

The British use a briefcase called ‘Gladstone box’ to carry their Budget documents

William Ewart Gladstone brought the Budget document in a red briefcase first in 1860

Ever since, British Chancellors have used the same red Gladstone box till 2010 when it was officially retired

In India, however FMs always used different briefcases in every Budget

Here, the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived at the Parliament to present the Budget 1984-85 on February 29, 1984

Former PM Manmohan Singh carried a plain black bag during his popular 1991 Budget

During the 1998-99 Budget, the then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha introduced a black leather bag with straps and buckles

India’s first FM R K Shanmukham Chetty also brought a suitcase to present Budget

FM Niramla Sitharaman presented the Budget 2018-19 in a 'Bahikhata', a red velvet cloth to give it a more Indian appearance

In Budget 2020-21, FM Niramla Sitharaman made a modification in the convention and presented the Budget through a tablet