Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, who's presenting her 9th consecutive Union Budget, called it "yuva-driven" (youth-driven). She said, "In Vikasit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, several innovative ideas were shared with Prime Minister [Narendra Modi], which have inspired many of our proposals, making it unique Yuva Shakti-driven budget." She added, "PM has chosen reform over rhetoric."