How the government resisted populist temptations to create a growth Budget Economy in tatters, a raft of sectors batted by the virus crying for help, plenty of lobbying from all quarters. Yet the policymakers stuck to the task of creating a Budget affixed on growth goals. A behind-the-scenes look at what went into the making of Budget 2021. Representative image (PC- MoneyControl.Com) In an ordinary year, the work on an upcoming Budget begins by October. It gradually ramps up by December, when most of the publicised pre-Budget meetings take place, and attains fever-pitch until the finance minister of the day presents the Budget on February 1.