FY19 Budget likely on Feb 1, preparations begin

Like 2017-18, govt will seek comments from the public at large, including Facebook and Twitter

The finance ministry on Wednesday issued an official circular to begin the process of drafting the Union Budget for 2018-19.

While no date was given as to when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would table the Budget in Parliament, the document stated the final estimates for schemes and other expenditures should be decided by January 15, 2018.

The Budget is likely to be presented on February 1, 2018, officials confirmed to Business Standard.

According to the circular, work begins on September 30, with the preparation of tentative budget estimates based on the medium-term expenditure framework, (MTEF) which gives estimates three years