Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discharged from AIIMS

NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi with a minor stomach infection, was discharged from the institute on Wednesday, sources said.

The 63-year-old minister was admitted to a private ward of the hospital around 12 pm on Monday. Sources also added she was admitted to AIIMS Delhi for a routine check-up.

The union government is in the process of consultations to finalize the union budget to be presented on February 1 next year. Sitharaman has held pre-budget meetings to elicit views of various sections including representatives of chambers of commerce and industry.

Next year's budget is likely to be the last full budget of the Modi government in its second term with the next Lok Sabha elections due in April-May of 2024.

The formal exercise to prepare the annual Budget for the next financial year commenced on October 10.