Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Friday that India offers a unique combination of scale, technology, talent and growth opportunities through GIFT City in Gujarat. She chaired a high-level review meeting on GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) and its evolving international financial services ecosystem. GIFT City is India's first operational smart city and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) located in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar. In her address after the review meeting, Sitharaman said the progress achieved here so far is encouraging, and continued coordination among stakeholders will further strengthen its role in India's growth journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047. Sitharaman highlighted GIFT City's strategic importance in deepening India's integration with global financial markets and facilitating international capital flows into the country supported by globally benchmarked institutional frameworks, regulatory agility and supportive

The finance minister and US Ambassador Sergio Gor discussed fintech collaboration, investment opportunities and bilateral economic ties amid ongoing trade negotiations

Responsible Opposition does not engage in fear-mongering, says FM Sitharaman

Jansuraksha schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana have settled claims of about Rs 25,160 crore since their launch in 2015, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday. Jan Suraksha schemes Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) envisioned to extend affordable financial protection to all, particularly the under-served and vulnerable sections of society, were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9, 2015. These flagship schemes, which completed 11 years, aim to broaden the insurance and pension landscape by shielding citizens against life's uncertainties and fostering long-term financial resilience. Citing data on the 11th anniversaries of the Jan Suraksha Schemes, Sitharaman said that over 27 crore, 58 crore and 9 crore enrolments have been done under PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY, respectively. On PMJJBY, she said the scheme has ...

Finance Minister signals fertiliser prices may not be passed on to farmers despite rising global costs, as subsidy burden mounts amid West Asia tensions

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urges Sebi to simplify KYC, adopt anticipatory regulation, strengthen cybersecurity safeguards, and deepen bond markets to support long-term growth

Sitharaman says IBA committee will look into issues of distribution tieups of banks for third-party products

Domestic consumption is sustaining the growth momentum in the economy, and predictable policy support is essential to ensure that the pace of GDP expansion continues, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday. Speaking at an event organised by SBI here, Sitharaman also said that a committee of bankers is looking into the issue of whether to allow exclusive distribution tie-ups for selling third-party products by banks or adopt an open architecture approach. She also urged banks to focus on the physical contact with customers as they go global and digital. The minister further said that the disinvestment process of IDBI Bank will continue going ahead. "...consumption emerging out of its domestic market itself is able to sustain our growth, which is the fastest even now in the world," she said. The finance minister said that while it is necessary for the consumption for the growth process to continue, it is also pertinent to have predictable policies. "...unless our

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met heads of banks on risks related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) following global concerns over Anthropic's Mythos model threatening data security of the financial systems. The meeting assumes significance in view of development of the Claude Mythos AI model by Anthropic claiming that it has found vulnerabilities in many major operating systems. According to sources, risks and measures needed to deal with AI were discussed at the meeting. The meeting chaired by the Finance Minister deliberated on various risks that AI posed on the financial sector, sources said, adding that banks have been urged to take preemptive measures to secure their systems, data and money of customers. The meeting was attended by top officials of banks, officials from Reserve Bank of India, and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. According to a senior finance ministry official, the ministry and the RBI are studying the extent of risks that t

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday said that the Centre had asked the state to review its existing bonus policy and consider discontinuing it on paddy and asked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman whether she was willing to place the letter in this regard in public domain. Sitharaman, however, said the chief minister's allegation that the union government directed Tamil Nadu not to provide incentives for paddy cultivation "is factually baseless, politically motivated, and a deliberate distortion designed to mislead the farmers of Tamil Nadu." What was communicated to all state Chief Secretaries - not just Tamil Nadu - was a suggestion to align state bonus policies with national priorities, she said in a post on 'X' citing the letter dated January 9, 2026, asking the states to align their bonus policy to promote pulses, oilseeds and millets, in line with the national priorities for nutritional security, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and sustainable agriculture. "Th

It has been argued that India must push up the domestic production of fossil fuels, including oil and gas, along with diversifying sources of imports

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlights policy dilemma between protecting small savers and managing rising government borrowing costs amid shifting savings trends

FM Nirmala Sitharaman says current year even 'more challenging' but India has enough fiscal space

She said the current year is likely to be more challenging due to the escalating conflict in the West Asia, which has heightened regional security concerns

Kitex-backed Twenty20 enters Kerala's Assembly polls with NDA, pitching its Kizhakkambalam model as a disruptor in the state's bipolar political landscape

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday raised the Sabarimala gold loss issue during an NDA poll campaign event at Perumbavoor and said even 'God is not safe' in Kerala. While addressing party workers during a roadshow, she said the southern state may be known as 'God's Own Country'. "But God is not safe in Kerala. Even Lord Ayyappa's gold was taken away. So, my humble request is that...we don't want UDF and LDF anymore in the state," Sitharaman said. Launching a scathing attack on the CPI(M)-led ruling LDF and the Congress-led UDF, she accused the traditional fronts of mismanaging Kerala's economy through alternate stints in power. "The UDF and the LDF cannot go on like this. Because Kerala's economy is in a very bad state," the finance minister said. She claimed that the state's financial condition had worsened significantly, alleging that industries were in decline and entrepreneurs were finding it difficult to sustain operations in Kerala. Citing prominent ...

Parliament passes IBC Bill allowing land authorities in CoC meetings, with around 50,000 homebuyers expected to benefit from pending real estate cases

Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said in the Lok Sabha that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has been a main and very crucial factor in improving the health

The amended IBC Bill requires the Committee of Creditors to record reasons for selecting resolution applicants, while introducing timelines for NCLAT and faster approval of plans

A heated debate broke out in the Lok Sabha as Opposition MPs clashed with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the sharp decline of the Indian rupee against the US dollar.