New Delhi, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended birthday greetings to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, praising her contribution to economic reforms and development and saying that her efforts are adding momentum to India’s journey towards becoming a strong and self-reliant nation.
In a post on X, Modi said Sitharaman’s focus on reforms and economic development was contributing to the country’s broader objective of strengthening the economy and advancing self-reliance.
“Best wishes to FM Nirmala Sitharaman Ji on her birthday. With her emphasis on reforms and economic development, she is adding momentum to our endeavour of being a strong and self-reliant India. May she be blessed with a long and healthy life,” the Prime Minister said.
Sitharaman, who turns 67 on Tuesday, has served as Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister since 2019. She is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka and has been one of the key figures in the Narendra Modi-led government’s economic policy and reform initiatives.
Before taking charge of the Finance Ministry, Sitharaman served as Defence Minister from 2017 to 2019. She became the first full-time woman Defence Minister of India and the second woman after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to hold the portfolio.
She entered the Union government in 2014 as Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs and later served as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry.
Sitharaman assumed charge as Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister on May 31, 2019, becoming India’s first full-time woman Finance Minister. She presented her first Union Budget on July 5, 2019, and has since presented successive Union Budgets, including the 2026-27 Budget.
Her tenure has coincided with several major economic policy measures focused on fiscal management, structural reforms, investment, manufacturing and strengthening domestic capabilities. In the 2026-27 Budget, she also announced measures aimed at boosting MSMEs, including a dedicated ₹10,000-crore SME Growth Fund.
Born on August 18, 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Sitharaman studied economics at Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College in Tiruchirappalli before moving to New Delhi for higher studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she completed her master’s degree and M.Phil in Economics.
Sitharaman joined the BJP in 2006 and became its national spokesperson in 2010. She entered Parliament through the Rajya Sabha in 2014 and subsequently represented Karnataka in the Upper House.
She has also featured on international rankings of influential women, including Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful women.
Over the years, Sitharaman has emerged as a prominent figure in India’s economic policymaking, with her responsibilities spanning finance, corporate affairs, fiscal policy and structural reforms.
FOLLOW NOW
