Nirmala Sitharaman

From SME funding and services-led growth to tax tweaks and tourism, Nirmala Sitharaman's record ninth Budget signalled where public spending and policy are headed in FY27

The finance minister stressed that India had increased its commitment towards climate action, increasing its budget allocation from 3.7 per cent of GDP six years ago to nearly 5.6 per cent of GDP now

Finance minister says Budget aims to strengthen domestic capabilities, citing strong growth and low inflation as a "Goldilocks moment" for the economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's reply in Lok Sabha to the discussion on the Union Budget, saying she gave a comprehensive picture of how this year's budget will contribute to the nation's economic transformation. Sitharaman, in her speech, said the government has envisaged a total expenditure of Rs 53.47 lakh crore for the next financial year, up 7.7 per cent from the current fiscal ending March 31. In a post on X, Modi said, "In her speech in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Ji gave a comprehensive picture of how this year's Budget will contribute to our nation's economic transformation. She emphasised Reform Express, the support to MSMEs, skilling, push to next-gen infrastructure, efforts to boost healthcare, education and more." The finance minister said the effective capital expenditure rises to Rs 17.1 lakh crore, which is 4.4 per cent of the GDP. Besides, she said, the government is following the fis

Sitharaman said since the FY27 Budget was the first Budget in the second quarter of the 21st Century, there has been some investments which will have bearing on the long term

Draft norms seek to curb mis-selling by barring incentives from third parties, mandating refunds and compensation, and prohibiting use of dark patterns

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said that the government has envisaged a total expenditure of Rs 53.47 lakh crore for the next financial year, up 7.7 per cent from the current fiscal ending March 31. According to the revised estimate, the size of the Budget for the current fiscal is Rs 49.64 lakh crore, lower from Rs 50.65 lakh crore estimated in February 2025. The Budget for fiscal 2024-25 was at Rs 46.52 lakh crore. Total expenditure is pegged at Rs 53.47 lakh crore in the next fiscal, much more than tax receipts, she said in reply to a discussion on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha. The government aims for tax receipts of Rs 44.04 lakh crore, 8 per cent higher than the previous year. Talking about capex, she said, the government has made the highest-ever allocation of Rs 12.2 lakh crore, which is 4.4 per cent of the GDP. Besides, she said, the government is following the fiscal discipline and has projected the fiscal deficit at 4.3 per cent of the GDP or Rs 16

Bids close for extraction project as Centre backs corridors in four states

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to address the Reserve Bank of India's central board on February 23 and highlight key points of the FY27 Budget, including measures to boost manufacturing, and support for agriculture and tourism. The meeting would take place days after the RBI decided to retain the key policy rate at 5.25 per cent with a neutral stance amidst global uncertainties. The post-budget meeting has been scheduled for February 23, where the finance minister will address the board members and talk about announcements made in the Budget 2026-27 that strike a fine balance between growth and fiscal prudence, sources said. It is customary for the finance minister to address the RBI board after the budget. Unveiling her ninth straight Budget in a row on February 1 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, "Since we assumed office 12 years ago, India's economic trajectory has been marked by stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation." The ...

The Competition Commission is probing the alleged cartelisation by steel manufacturers and the investigation report has been shared with the parties concerned to provide their objections and suggestions in accordance with the competition law, the government said on Monday. The corporate affairs ministry also informed the Lok Sabha that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) registered 54 cases related to anti-competitive practices/and received 149 merger (M&A) filings. in 2025. In a written reply, Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said CCI has registered a case pertaining to the alleged cartelisation by steel manufacturers pursuant to the directions of the Madras High Court. After investigation, CCI's Director General (DG) submitted the investigation report, which has been shared with the parties with directions to file their objections/suggestions in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002. "The matter is presently under inquiry before the ...

As Budget debate triggers sharp exchanges in Parliament, Sitharaman rebuts DMK charges while the Opposition considers a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

For those operating at the heart of supply chains, the renewed commitment to infrastructure-led growth stands out as one of the most significant aspects of the Budget

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on avoiding "policy ping-pong" has shaped the Union Budget 2026-27, which is anchored in policy stability while laying the pathways for the long-term vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' at its core, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. Framed as the first Budget of a new five-year fiscal cycle and the second quarter of the 21st century, it prioritises capital expenditure, infrastructure expansion and structural reforms over populist measures, while maintaining fiscal discipline. By emphasising predictable policymaking, sustained investment and multi-year planning extending to 2047 and beyond, the Budget seeks to strengthen economic resilience, crowd in private investment and position India for durable, export-led growth. "People want stability, and that is why they have elected Prime Minister Modi for the third time. Stability is inherent in that vote, and it is equally reflected in the way policies are executed through successive budgets," ...

The government will soon constitute a High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat to draw up a blueprint to create mega-lenders capable of meeting the financing needs of a developed India, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. "We want the committee to tell us what kind of things we need to do so that banking is made available for funding Viksit Bharat," she told PTI Videos in an interview. Asked if it would suggest a merger of public sector banks, Sitharaman said one should not narrow it down like that. "It is for India's banking sector to be made big enough, big enough in the sense, made or primed to take care of Viksit Bharat funding. You have to reach Viksit Bharat destination...it (Viksit Bharat) needs money, it needs financing, it needs credit, it needs banking facility to reach the common man." When asked about the timeframe for formation of the committee, she said, "We will do it at the earliest". "I propose setting up a 'High Level Committee on Banking for Viksi

The India-US Interim Agreement framework will support Indian MSMEs in integrating into global value chains and lower costs for businesses and consumers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday. As part of the framework announced last night, both countries will reduce import duties on a number of goods to boost two-way trade. While the US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the present 50 per cent, India will eliminate or cut down import duties on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American food and agricultural products, including dried distillers' grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits. According to a joint statement, India has expressed its intention to purchase USD 500 billion of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products and coking coal over the next five years. "India has safeguarded the sensitivities of its agriculture and anim

Targeted RBI campaigns and incentives have sharply increased the pace of unclaimed deposit settlements, pushing monthly payouts to over Rs 1,000 crore, compared with Rs 100-200 crore earlier, RBI said

It is useful to remember that the miracle economies to our East, the so-called Asian Tigers, sustained high growth for decades by following prudent fiscal policies

The India-US trade deal, had it come a little earlier, would not have made the Union Budget any different, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said

FM Nirmala Sitharaman says another round of Customs clean-up soon

Each drape, border and weave has echoed the fiscal moment-tight seams in lean years, bolder colours in recovery, steadier textures as India's economic story unfolded, measured carefully in six yards