Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with economists and sectoral experts on Tuesday, with Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and other members of the policy think tank also in attendance. The meeting is expected to focus on gathering views and suggestions ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26, set to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha on February 1.

In related developments, Finance Minister Sitharaman chaired a pre-Budget consultation meeting with state finance ministers on December 20. Fiscally stressed states like Punjab and Kerala requested special financial relief packages and increased allocations for 50-year interest-free loans to support infrastructure projects. They also urged the Centre to cover a larger share of costs for land acquisition and capital expenditure.