The government on Wednesday, to ensure speedier implementation of projects and schemes,  decided to advance the presentation of Union budget by about a month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the announcement after chairing his 16th interaction through the ‘Pragati’ in the national capital. The prime minister has urged all the states to align their plans with the Budget advancement being done by the Centre to take maximum advantage.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said, “The prime minister mentioned that the Union Budget presentation is being advanced by about a month to ensure speedier implementation of projects and schemes.”

The Cabinet on September 21 had in-principle decided to end the colonial-era tradition of presenting the Union Budget on last day of the February and advance it by about a month to help to complete the legislative approval for the annual spending plans and tax proposals before the beginning of the new financial year on April 1.

The move could help government prepare for the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST), scheduled to be rolled out from 1 April. Earlier, considering the proposal by the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, the government had abolished the railway budget and merged it with the Union budget itself.

The previous NDA government, under prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001, had changed the time of presenting the budget to 11am, from the British era practice of presenting it at 5pm.

By Premji