Union Budget 2025: FM Nirmala Sitharaman twins with President Droupadi Murmu in white saree. Spot the differences!

Union Budget 2025: Draped in a white and red saree, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan carrying her trademark ‘bahi-khata’. President Droupadi Murmu, who was already present, also chose white and red as her colours for the day.

The twinning was so spot on that, at first glance, the sarees of Nirmala Sitharaman and Droupadi Murmu looked almost the same.

Despite the similarity between the sarees, there were still significant differences between Nirmala Sitharaman and Droupadi Murmu's outfit pick for Budget Day 2025.

Check how Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget 2025 saree was different from Droupadi Murmu's. See how many of these you identified correctly:

• Even though the red in the sarees of the two women leaders seemed like an exact match, Nirmala Sitharaman's blouse was more on the maroon side of the shade, while Droupadi Murmu's blouse was a brighter red towards Vermilion.
• They also had a different tone of white; while Nirmala Sitharaman wore a more cream/off-white saree, Droupadi Murmu's saree was white.

• Both the leaders had a golden border on the sleeve of their blouse, but Sitharaman's golden border was broader than Murmu's.
• Nirmala Sitharaman's handloom silk saree had fish-themed embroidery ending in a dull golden border, while Droupadi Murmu sported a regional tribal woven saree with a broader red and golden border.

More about Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget day saree:

This year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget saree is a tribute to Madhubani Art and Dulari Devi, a Bihar-based artist who received the Padma Shri award in 2021.

Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget Day saree was a gift from Dulari Devi, who requested that she wear it while presenting Budget 2025.

Dulari Devi, who represents the marginalised Dalit Mallaah caste, is known for illustrating two styles of Madhubani art — ‘Kachnhi' (line sketching) ‘and ‘Bharni’ (coloured).

Budget 2025: Customary ‘dahi-cheeni’

President Droupadi Murmu offered ‘dahi-cheeni’ to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman before she left the Rashtrapti Bhavan to present her eighth Union Budget.

This customary gesture for good luck was made during the Finance Minister's visit to President Murmu at Rashtrapti Bhavan.