Long and short of Budget speeches by finance ministers

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her fifth consecutive Budget speech on February 1, 2023 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her fifth consecutive Budget speech on February 1, 2023

Sitharaman holds the record for delivering the longest Budget speech in terms of duration. In 2020 speech, she spoke for 2 hours and 42 minutes. Sitharaman holds the record for delivering the longest Budget speech in terms of duration. In 2020 speech, she spoke for 2 hours and 42 minutes.

Sitharaman, who is India’s first full-time female finance minister, in her maiden Budget speech in 2019, spoke for 2 hours and 17 minutes. Sitharaman, who is India’s first full-time female finance minister, in her maiden Budget speech in 2019, spoke for 2 hours and 17 minutes.

Former finance minister Jaswant Singh in his 2003 Budget speech spoke for 2 hours and 13 minutes. Former finance minister Jaswant Singh in his 2003 Budget speech spoke for 2 hours and 13 minutes.

Former finance minister Arun Jaitley in his 2014 Budget speech spoke for 2 hours and 10 minutes. Former finance minister Arun Jaitley in his 2014 Budget speech spoke for 2 hours and 10 minutes.

In terms of word count, the longest Budget speech was delivered by Manmohan Singh in 1991. The speech had 18,650 words. In terms of word count, the longest Budget speech was delivered by Manmohan Singh in 1991. The speech had 18,650 words.

Arun Jaitley’s 2018 Budget speech had 18,604 words. He has the second most words in the Budget speech. Arun Jaitley’s 2018 Budget speech had 18,604 words. He has the second most words in the Budget speech.

The shortest Budget in terms of words was presented in 1977 by the then finance minister Hirubhai Mulljibhai Patel. The speech consisted of 800 words. The shortest Budget in terms of words was presented in 1977 by the then finance minister Hirubhai Mulljibhai Patel. The speech consisted of 800 words.

The record for most number of Budgets presented is held by Morarji Desai. In his tenure as finance minister in 1962-69, he delivered 10 Union Budgets. The record for most number of Budgets presented is held by Morarji Desai. In his tenure as finance minister in 1962-69, he delivered 10 Union Budgets.

Desai is followed by P Chidambaram with 9 Budgets, Pranab Mukherjee and Yashwant Sinha 8 Budgets, and Manmohan Singh 6 Budgets. Desai is followed by P Chidambaram with 9 Budgets, Pranab Mukherjee and Yashwant Sinha 8 Budgets, and Manmohan Singh 6 Budgets.