Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will kick-start the customary prebudget meetings beginning Monday with a special focus on issues concerning climate change and infrastructure.

The minister would hold virtual meetings on November 21 in three groups with industry chambers, the infrastructure sector and environment experts seeking suggestions for the 2023-24 Budget from stakeholders.

On November 22, Sitharaman would meet agriculture and agro- processing industry, representatives from financial sector and capital markets.

She will also be meeting the representatives of services sector and trade bodies, besides experts from social sector, including health, education, water and sanitation, on November 24.

The pre-budget meetings with the trade union representatives and economists are scheduled for November 28.

The participants will give suggestions on the 2023-24 Budget which will be presented in Parliament by the finance minister on February 1.

Sources said climate change would be one of the priority areas in the next budget making as India has pledged to become net zero emitter of carbon by 2070.

The budget for the next year will have to address critical issues of high inflation, boosting demand, job creation and putting the economy on a sustained 8 per cent-plus growth path. It will be the last full budget before the general elections, which is scheduled for 2024.

Sitharaman on Friday asked the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to investment more in renewal energy and smart technologies and urged the agency to set up a regional office in India. AIIB president Jin Liqun called upon the finance minister on Friday.