New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold pre-budget consultations with prominent economists on Wednesday. The meeting will take place virtually.

"Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair Pre-Budget consultations with prominent economists in New Delhi on 22nd December 2021, in connection with the forthcoming General Budget 2022-23," the finance ministry said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Sitharaman has been holding pre-budget consultations with representatives from various sectors since December 15. She has sought input from industry bodies, farmer organisations, economists, and service sector experts in order to resurrect consumption and growth, which has been hampered by the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. The first meeting of the Union finance minister was with agricultural experts and the agro-processing industry. Sitharaman has held six such pre-budget consultations so far, the most recent of which was held on December 18 with stakeholders from health, education, rural development, and water and sanitation. She is scheduled to present the Union Budget on February 1, 2020.

In addition to Sitharaman's pre-budget consultations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met with industry leaders. On Monday, he met with CEOs of companies from various industries for pre-budget discussions.

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