New Delhi, Feb. 2 -- Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered her ninth consecutive Union Budget speech on Sunday, at a time when global geo-economic upheavals weigh on India. While each Budget speech reflects the economic context of its moment, its emphasis and vocabulary also shift over time.

A slew of words have gained prominence in the latest Budget speech. Along with "artificial intelligence", terms such as "export", "import", "trade", "health" and "medical" have featured frequently, indicating that the government is not only keeping pace with evolving "technology", but also responding to a shifting global landscape, renewed geo-economic tensions, and persistent health concerns.

At the same time, familiar mainstays such as "fa...