New Delhi, Feb. 2 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has spoken about the scrutiny she faces over her appearance on Budget Day, calling it a reflection of deeply embedded and often unspoken gender biases that women in public life continue to encounter.

Referring to the recurring attention on the saree she wears while presenting the Union Budget, Sitharaman said such discussions are usually not rooted in hostility but stem from assumptions that emerge casually in everyday interactions.

"Not that we consciously cherish or nurture it, but it exists within us and often comes out in conversation. Comments like, 'What kind of clothes is she wearing?' or 'What is she doing?' reflect how women are viewed, rather than being seen as individua...