New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday kicked off pre-budget consultations by meeting some of India’s top economists, who urged the government to prioritise manufacturing, job creation, and productivity growth.

“Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman chairs the first Pre-Budget Consultation with leading economists in connection with the upcoming Union Budget 2026–27, in New Delhi today,” the Finance Ministry said in a post on X.

The meeting, held in the presence of senior officials including Department of Economic Affairs secretary Anuradha Thakur and Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran, brought together macroeconomic and agricultural experts from across academia and industry.

Those in attendance included Neelkanth Mishra, part-time m

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