The Union Budget, for the first time in the history of independent India, will go completely paperless due to the ongoing pandemic. As the budget papers will not be printed, the Finance Minister recently launched an official mobile app to provide complete access to all budget documents in the upcoming Union Budget 2021-22, to be held on February 1, 2021.
Here's all you need to know about the new app.
When was the mobile app launched?
Ans: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Union Budget Mobile App on Saturday, January 23, for hassle-free access of the official Budget documents for the members of Parliament as well as the general public. The Budget, for the first time ever, will go paperless this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Calling it the "simplest form of digital convenience", the Finance Ministry stated, "The mobile app facilitates complete access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill etc, as prescribed by the Constitution."
Why is the Union Budget paperless this year?
Ans: The decision to go paperless was taken by the government as the printing process requires several people to stay at the press for around a fortnight. More than a hundred people usually stay at the basement of North Block at the Parliament till the annual budget is presented. This could not have been facilitated due to the ongoing pandemic and the restrictions that came along with it.
What does the Union Budget mobile app feature?
Ans: The mobile app facilitates complete access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill etc as prescribed by the Constitution. The App has a user-friendly interface with embedded features of downloading, printing, search, zoom in and out, bidirectional scrolling, table of contents and external links, etc. The app and the documents will be made available to all the stakeholders including the general public. The Budget documents will be available on the app after the completion of the Budget Speech by the Finance Minister in Parliament on February 1, 2021.
What language is the app available in?
Ans: It is bilingual — English and Hindi and will be available on both Android and iOS platforms.
Where can we download the app?
Ans: The mobile app can be downloaded from the Union Budget Web Portal www.indiabudget.gov.in. It has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).