Budget 2024: Why is the budget briefcase red - ledger, what is its connection with the British

New Delhi. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2024-25 for the financial year 2024-25 on 23 July 2024 (Tuesday). If you look carefully at every year's budget, one common thing will be seen and that is a red-colored briefcase or ledger. Yes, in the year 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman used a red cloth instead of a briefcase to present the budget. For some years now, the budget has been presented through a completely digital tablet, which is carried in a traditional ledger-style pouch. This is a kind of old tradition with a modern twist. In the year 2021, Nirmala Sitharaman used an iPad for the budget speech, and an old tradition in India was broken. This iPad was also covered in a red cloth and was named Bahi-Khata. In such a situation, red color has been common in the budget presented every year, whether it is a briefcase or a Bahi-Khata. Today we will tell you what is the connection of budget with red colour. Is it related to Britishers?

Where did the red color come from

The red-colored budget briefcase is related to the British Raj. In 1860, British Chancellor Gladstone introduced a red leather-covered briefcase with the Queen's monogram. This briefcase came to be known as the Gladstone Box. Since then, such red-coloured briefcases started being used for the budget.

Reasons behind choosing the red color

Priory of Prince Albert
Colour of the House of Arms

Another story related to the red color and the budget is quite famous. According to the story, in the late 16th century, a representative of Queen Elizabeth I presented a red briefcase full of black pudding to the Spanish ambassador, since then the tradition of red color started.

Apart from the historical perspective, the color red is very attractive and hence is considered appropriate for important announcements.

History of the word 'Budget'

The word 'budget' is derived from the French word 'budget'. It means a leather bag. This is why every finance minister poses with a leather bag before his speech in Parliament. The tradition of budgeting is as old as the 18th century. The request to 'open the budget' was first made by the UK budget chief in his annual speech. Following this request, in 1860, British budget chief William E Gladstone used a red briefcase for his budget speech and budget documents. Since then, the budget briefcase became popular.