New Delhi: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman Monday held the pre-budget consultations with the finance ministers of States and Union Territories ( UT with Legislature). The meeting was held through video conference and was attended by chief ministers, the deputy chief ministers, finance ministers, ministers and senior officers from the States/UTs and the union government.

The union finance secretary Dr A.B. Pandey welcomed all the participants to the deliberation and informed the importance of this particular consultation meeting.

The union FM highlighted the importance of this meeting as a sign of co-operative federalism and indicated the manner in which the union government was strongly supportive of States/UTs (with Legislature) fight against the pandemic.

Most participants thanked the FM for financially supporting their States/UTs during the worst months of pandemic, by enhancing borrowing limits and providing back to back loans to States. The participants also gave numerous suggestions for inclusion in the Budget Speech.