Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with over 150 senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, is in Karnataka’s heritage town of Hampi for a two-day brainstorming session aimed at deliberating on India’s economic priorities and growth roadmap.
The meeting, attended by joint secretaries, senior officers, and officials from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, features open and candid discussions on the current economic framework and reform measures. Breaking conventional hierarchies, the sessions are designed to allow officials at all levels to freely raise questions, share ideas, and express differing views.
Government-associated economic experts, including the Chief Economic Adviser, are participating in the deliberations and presenting assessments of the present economic situation. Officials are interacting directly with these experts during the sessions.
The discussions are divided into thematic segments, with a key session focusing on “AI, Ease of Doing Business, and Financing for Viksit Bharat.” Deliberations centred on leveraging artificial intelligence, simplifying procedures, ensuring regulatory predictability, strengthening institutional capacity, improving fund flows, and building a future-ready tax and governance system through digital tools.
Finance Minister Sitharaman chaired the pre-budget ‘Chintan Shivir’ at a resort near Malapanagudi, a practice she follows ahead of every Union Budget at different locations across the country. A similar exercise was earlier held in Kevadia, Gujarat.
In her remarks, Sitharaman highlighted the historical importance of the Vijayanagara region, describing it as one of the strongest Indian empires at its peak nearly 500 years ago. She also pointed to present-day challenges within the district, where grand monuments exist alongside drought-prone areas, low agricultural productivity, and human-animal conflict, stressing the need to remain connected to current developmental realities.
Sources said the objective of the session is to encourage meaningful, independent dialogue that helps refine policy-making while strengthening coordination, trust, and cooperation within the ministry. The visit also aims to familiarise officials with Hampi’s rich heritage, with participants scheduled to tour historical sites over the weekend. Local cuisine has been included in the programme to showcase Karnataka’s culinary traditions.
The visit has raised expectations among local residents that the upcoming budget may include special allocations for the conservation and development of Hampi’s Vijayanagara-era monuments.