Page 18 - Latest Updates on Budget 2025-26

Budget allocates Rs 74,226 crore for drinking water and sanitation

The Centre has allocated Rs 74,226 crore for the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation in the Union Budget 2025-26, with most of it allotted to the Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to provide tap water connections to rural households. The allocation marked a substantial rise from the revised estimates of Rs 29,916 crore for 2024-25 for the department. However, the allocation is lower than the Rs 77,390.68 crore originally earmarked for the department in the Budget for 2024-25. The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has been allocated Rs 25,276.83 crore, an increase from Rs 21,640.88 crore from the revised estimates. Under the Namami Gange Mission-II, Rs 3,400 crore has been earmarked for cleaning and rejuvenating the river, up from Rs 3,000 crore last year. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the flagship programme of the Centre aimed at providing tap water connections to every rural household, has been allocated Rs 67,000 crore, marking a significant

Fixed depositors - your TDS limit hiked to Rs 50,000, Rs 1 lakh for seniors

The limit will rise from the current Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per financial year starting April 1, 2025

Budget 2025: Home ministry allocated Rs 2.33 trn, census funding reduced

The Union Budget 2025-26 on Saturday allocated Rs 2,33,210.68 crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs with the majority of the fund -- Rs 1,60,391.06 crore -- being given to central police forces like CRPF, BSF and CISF which are responsible for internal security, border guarding and security of vital installations. The Union Budget 2024-25 had allocated Rs 2,19,643.31 crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), helmed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated Rs 41,000.07 crore to Jammu and Kashmir, which became a union territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. In the Budget, Rs 6,212.06 crore has been given to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Rs 6,187.48 crore to Chandigarh, Rs 2,780 crore to Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Rs 4,692.15 crore to Ladakh, Rs 1,586.16 crore to Lakshadweep and Rs 3,432.20 crore to Puducherry. The Budget also allocated a meagre Rs 574.80 crore (Rs 572 crore in 2024-25) towards wo

A walkout in the midst of a 'colourful' Budget, but the mood stayed bright

The Treasury Benches erupted with joy when the restructuring in income-tax slabs was announced, breaking spontaneously into chants of "Modi, Modi"

Chhattisgarh CM hails Union Budget as 'historic for middle class, farmers'

The Union Budget for 2025-26 fulfils the dreams of every citizen and is a document of India's golden future, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Saturday. The budget will prove to be a milestone for the upliftment of the middle and working classes, he asserted. "With the Union Budget 2025-26 presented today, the promise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji has been fulfilled again that Modi Ji takes care of those who are not being taken care of by anyone. This budget is historic for the upliftment of the middle and working classes of the society. It is a document of India's golden future. It is one of the few historical budgets in the history of Independent India," Sai said. Honouring the country's taxpayers and middle class, the Modi government has taken a decision which people had not even imagined, the CM added. "While during the Congress government, tax was levied on an annual income of Rs 2 lakh, in Modi Ji's government, no tax will be imposed on annual income up

Budget 2025 highlights path towards Rs 10-trillion 'Viksit Bharat' economy

Budget 2025 Highlights: This budget is an excellent Budget, addressing the current challenges and also the upcoming opportunities

Union Budget announcements like sixer on full toss ball: PHDCCI President

Industry body PHDCCI on Saturday termed the announcements made in the Union Budget as a "sixer on a full toss ball" which will drive growth across sectors improving infrastructure and enhancing governance. In an interview to PTI, its President Hemant Jain said the key focus areas in the Budget 2025-26 included taxation, power, urban development, mining, the financial sector, and regulatory reforms, are major ingredients of development. "It's like a sixer on a full toss ball. These areas will drive growth, improve infrastructure, enhance governance, and ensure sustainable development across various sectors," said Jain, who is also the Managing Director of KLJ Industries. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled record eighth Union Budget in Lok Sabha on Saturday. The size of the Budget at Rs 47.16 lakh crore, including a capital expenditure of Rs 10.1 lakh crore, will boost the economy, he said. On the tax related announcements, Jain said it is a strong step to boost the mi

Govt marginally expands Budget for social justice, disability welfare

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has received Rs 13,611 crore in the Union Budget announced on Saturday, while the allocation for disability welfare now stands at Rs 1,275 crore. This is a 35.75 per cent rise in allocation over the revised estimate for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2024-25, which stood at Rs 10,026.40 crore. The allocation for the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in the Union Budget 2025-26 was 9.22 per cent more than the revised estimate of the ongoing fiscal which is Rs 1167.27 crore. In this year's Budget, the government has allocated Rs 472 crore under the Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) for Scheduled Castes, covering programmes like the National Fellowship for SCs (Rs 212 crore), Free Coaching for SCs and OBCs (Rs 20 crore), Top Class Education for SCs (Rs 110 crore), and National Overseas Scholarship for SCs (Rs 130 crore). A separate allocation of Rs 250.13 cro

Winners, losers across sectors from Union Budget: Stock market reactions

The Indian government said people earning up to 1.28 million rupees ($14,791.53) per year will not have to pay any taxes, raising its threshold from 700,000 rupees

'No cut in capital expenditure': Nirmala Sitharaman post-Budget 2025

Public spending on capital expenditure remains a priority due to its strong multiplier effect on economic growth, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at the post-Budget press briefing

Govt projects dividend income of Rs 2.56 trn from RBI, PSBs in FY26

The government on Saturday projected a dividend income of Rs 2.56 lakh crore from the Reserve Bank and public sector financial institutions in FY2025-25, as per the Budget documents. In the current financial year, receipts from dividend/surplus of RBI, nationalised banks and financial institutions are estimated at Rs 2.34 lakh crore, about Rs 1,410 crore higher than the previous estimates. The documents stated that the total central government's receipts from 'dividends from public sector enterprises and other investments' would be Rs 3.25 lakh crore, up from Rs 2.89 lakh crore. In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the total receipts other than borrowings and the total expenditure are estimated at Rs 34.96 lakh crore and Rs 50.65 lakh crore, respectively. The net tax receipts are estimated at Rs 28.37 lakh crore. The Centre's fiscal deficit is estimated at 4.4 per cent of GDP during the next financial year. To finance the fiscal deficit, the net market .

Budget 2025 recognises influence of gig workers, says artist Paresh Maity

Says the budget is forward looking and will definitely make India the third largest economy by 2030

Budget 2025: Centre boosts Tribal ministry funding by 45%, focus on infra

The central government has increased the budget for the Union Tribal Ministry by over 45 per cent compared to the last year, allocating more funds to bridge infrastructure gaps in tribal-dominated areas across the country. For 2025-26, the ministry has been allocated Rs 14,925.81 crore, up from Rs 10,237.33 crore in 2024-25. Eklavya Model Residential Schools, which provide quality education to tribal students, will receive Rs 7,088.60 crore, up from Rs 4,748 crore last year. The budget for the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission, which ensures year-round income-generating opportunities for tribals, has been increased from Rs 152 crore to Rs 380 crore. The government has allocated Rs 335.97 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY), compared to Rs 127.51 crore last year. Under PMAAGY, funds are provided to states and union territories with Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations to improve education, healthcare, agriculture, skill development and employment ...

Budget 2025 boosts hospitality, health, education: Chef Manish Mehrotra

Through the announcements made in this Budget, there will be some job creation but more is required, Mehrotra said

Why Nikhil Kamath's Makhana post is going viral after Budget 2025 speech

Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2025 puts Makhana in the spotlight, sparking buzz around Nikhil Kamath's viral post on its Rs 6,000 crore global growth potential

Buget 2025: Govt proposes to open up nuclear sector ahead of PM's US visit

Strict liabilities under India's Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, have hampered implementation of the India-US nuclear deal that envisaged participation of US power plant makers

Union Budget 2025-26: Allocation to CBI increases to Rs 1,071 crore

The Centre has allocated Rs 1,071.05 crore to the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Union Budget 2025-26 announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, a nominal increase of Rs 84.12 crore from the ongoing fiscal. The agency received Rs 951.46 crore to manage its affairs in the Budget Estimates for 2024-25, which was later revised to Rs 986.93 crore. The government has allocated Rs 1,071.05 crore to the agency for 2025-26, the Budget presented by Sitharaman said. "The provision is for establishment-related expenditure of the Central Bureau of Investigation which is entrusted with investigation and prosecution in corruption cases against public servants, private persons, firms and other cases of serious crimes," the Budget document said. This also includes provisions for various projects such as modernisation of training centres of the CBI, establishment of technical and forensic support units, comprehensive modernisation and purchase of land, and construction of

Budget 2025: Airlines see growth, accessible travel in modified UDAN scheme

Airlines on Saturday welcomed the proposal to modify UDAN scheme to provide regional air connectivity to 120 new destinations, saying the move will make air travel more accessible as well as help boost overall economic growth. Presenting the Union Budget for 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) has enabled 1.5 crore middle-class people to meet their aspirations for speedier travel. SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said the budget is forward-looking and middle class-friendly and aims to boost spending and stimulate development. "With the launch of a modified UDAN scheme that will introduce 120 new destinations and bring 4 crore additional passengers into the fold over the next decade, the aviation landscape in India is set for a transformative shift. This initiative will not only make air travel more accessible to remote regions but will also drive economic growth and tourism, further empowering local economies," he said i

Budget 2025: FM Sitharaman's tax rebate decision sparks meme-fest online

Budget 2025: Stills from movies like Krrish, Welcome, and television series were being shared widely to encapsulate the sentiment of the taxpayers

Infra stocks fall on 'modest' capital spending hike in Budget 2025

(Reuters) -Indian infrastructure stocks declined in a special trading session on Saturday, with sector bellwether Larsen & Toubro leading losses as investors were disappointed by the 'modest' hike in capital spending announced in the annual budget.