With the 17th Lok Sabha Budget session underway, the new Narendra Modi government is presenting its maiden Union budget. The expectations facing this budget are formidable: it will be required to tackle slowing economic growth while not straying too far from the fiscal consolidation path.

It will also keenly be watched for signals on the Centre's policy roadmap for the next five years.

Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting her first budget on Friday, becoming the first full-time woman finance minister to announce India’s annual accounts. This is India's 89th Union budget, including interim ones.

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