Page 28 - Latest Updates on Budget 2025-26

Sonia Gandhi's remark for President 'in poor taste': Rashtrapati Bhavan

A viral video purportedly showed Sonia Gandhi referring to the President as 'poor thing' and claiming that the latter got tired after delivering her pre-Budget address to Parliament

Eco Survey asks financial regulators to balance stability, innovation

Financial sector regulators need to maintain an optimal balance between the stability and innovation to foster financial inclusion, said Economic Survey 2024-25 tabled in Parliament on Friday. The financial sector is primarily governed through independent regulatory bodies (IRBs) RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA and IBBI -- with FSDC having a broader financial stability mandate, enabling inter-regulatory coordination and promoting financial sector development, the survey said. Each IRB varies in design, the nature of delegated functions, and the degree of autonomy, which are unique to the socio-political context of its evolution and the regulated domain, it said. "Regulation in the financial sector must strike an optimal balance between the imperative of stability and the goals of fostering innovation, efficiency, and competition. Given the country's low financial literacy and lower-middle-income status, ensuring stability is essential to prevent systemic risks and protect consumers," it ..

Budget 2025: PM Modi hints at new measures for women, poor, middle class

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hinted at new initiatives for the poor and middle class as well as women as he laid out his government's vision a day before the Union Budget is presented in Parliament. Modi began his customary pre-session remarks to the media by invoking Lakshmi, the goddess associated with wealth and prosperity, and said he prayed for special blessings for the poor and middle class. Stressing the importance of ensuring equal rights for women free from religious and sectarian differences, he asserted that significant decisions towards the goal will be taken during the Budget Session, which started from Friday. He emphasised the importance of establishing the dignity of women, who have been at the centre of the ruling BJP's welfare measures. Modi said several historic bills and proposals will be discussed in this session, leading to laws that will strengthen the nation. President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament also underscor

Air connectivity improved considerably with new airports, UDAN: Eco Survey

Air connectivity in the country has improved considerably with new airports and regional air connectivity scheme, the Economic Survey said on Friday and highlighted that airport developers and operators have achieved 91 per cent of the Rs 91,000-crore capital expenditure envisaged for the FY20-FY25 period. "India is the fastest-growing aviation market globally. To accommodate the substantial growth in air traffic, Indian airlines have placed amongst the largest orders for aircraft globally," the Survey for 2024-25 tabled in the Parliament said. Domestic airlines have ordered more than 1,700 planes as they look to expand their networks amid rising air traffic demand. In the sphere of the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) industry, the Survey said the government is encouraging original equipment manufacturers to establish facilities in India and has introduced policies to align the sector with global standards. "New airports and improved regional connectivity under the Ude Desh

Market Highlights: Eco Survey buoys D-Street; Sensex up 741 pts, Nifty at 23,508; eyes on Budget now

Markets Today LIVE: Markets in Indian are poised to open with an upside, amid firm global cues, as investors track the start of the Budget session with the presentation of the Economic Survey today

Economic Survey 2024-25: Key highlights and challenges the CEA presents

India's economy is expected to grow between 6.3 per cent and 6.8 per cent in FY26. Chief Economic Adviser believes India is on a steady growth path while globalisation is slowing down

ITC gains 3% ahead of Budget 2025 on heavy volumes; sin tax in focus

Nuvama Institutional Equities reckons a low probability of a sharp hike in cigarette tax in the upcoming budget (1 Feb-25) given a small tax hike was taken last year.

Deregulate to grow: Eco Survey says India needs Ease of Doing Business 2.0

The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights the need for deregulation to enhance investment efficiency, reduce compliance burdens, and support MSMEs, industrial competitiveness, and job creation

5G rollout, regulatory reforms boosting digital connectivity: Eco Survey

The rollout of 5G services in most districts along with regulatory reforms directed at improving telecom infrastructure and user experience has boosted digital connectivity in India, the Economic Survey 2024-25 has noted. The document tabled in Parliament on Friday stated that telecom infrastructure in India is being significantly improved through the BharatNet Project, which aims to extend broadband access to rural areas, including villages, and enhance mobile coverage in regions such as the North-East, border areas, and islands. "Digital connectivity has made major advancements in digital inclusion, technological innovation, and regulatory reforms this fiscal year, all in line with the government's vision for a Digital India. "The rollout of 5G services, along with the introduction of new policies aimed at enhancing telecommunications infrastructure and user experience, has played a crucial role in digital connectivity," the pre-budget document said, noting that currently, 5G ...

Govt capex rose 8.2% from July-Nov 2024, led by defence, railways, roads

Economic Survey 2025: Government capex on key infrastructure has grown by 38.8% over the past five years

IPO fund raise between April-Dec 2024 at Rs 11.1 trn: Economic Survey 2025

Economic Survey 2025: India's share in global IPO listings, meanwhile, surged to 30 per cent in 2024, up from 17 per cent in 2023

Economic Survey flags rising imports, services sector remains key export driver

A sharper rise in imports, which grew by 6.9 per cent to $682.2 billion, widened the trade deficit from $69.7 billion in 2023 to $79.5 billion in FY25 (April-December)

Eco Survey calls for policy shift to cut cereal output, boost pulses, oils

The pre-budget document for the 2024-25 fiscal has suggested policy reforms to discourage overproduction of cereals while boosting output of pulses and edible oils, which the country currently imports to meet domestic shortages. The Economic Survey 2024-25, tabled in Parliament on Friday, stressed that India's agriculture sector has "significant untapped growth potential" despite various growth initiatives. Farmers must be allowed to receive unimpeded price signals from the market, with separate mechanisms to protect vulnerable households, it added. The document outlined three key policy shifts needed - establishing market mechanisms for price risk hedging, preventing excessive fertiliser use, and discouraging production of water and power-intensive crops that are already in surplus. "These policy shifts will help lift agricultural productivity in the economy by boosting land and labour productivity in the sector," the survey said. Agriculture sector growth averaged 5 per cent ...

Congress says Modi govt leading India into 'middle-income trap': What is it?

In its Real State of the Economy report, Congress has accused the Centre of steering India toward a 'middle-income trap.' Here's what it means

Less progress made in design, component mfg in electronics industry: Survey

Indigenous electronics production increased multifold in the last 10 years to reach Rs 9.52 lakh crore in 2023-24, the Economic Survey said, but pointed out that the industry has largely focused on assembly, making limited progress in design and component manufacturing. However, India's electronics market represents 4 per cent of the global market, the survey, which was tabled in Parliament on Friday, said. "Programmes such as Make in India and Digital India, along with improved infrastructure, ease of doing business, and various incentives, have boosted domestic manufacturing and drawn foreign investments. "However, India's electronics market represents 4 per cent of the global market. The industry has largely focused on assembly, with limited progress in design and component manufacturing," the survey said. According to the survey, domestic production of electronic goods has increased substantially from Rs 1.90 lakh crore in FY15 to Rs 9.52 lakh crore in FY24, registering a compo

Union Budget FY26: Key banking amendments in the spotlight, yet again

Among the most-watched moves pertaining to the banking sector will be possible changes to the RBI Act, the Banking Regulation Act and the Banking Companies Act

Eco Survey: Amid rising 'protectionism', India needs new strategic roadmap

The Survey also suggested that India should shift focus from merely wooing FDI to making itself more attractive for foreign investors through structural improvements.

Eco Survey cautions against shutting down thermal energy sans alternatives

Bats for Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) power plants, carbon capture technology

Union Budget session 2025 highlights: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tables Economic Survey

Budget session latest highlights: Finance Minister Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey today ahead of the presentation of the Budget. Catch the latest developments related to Union Budget here

Economic Survey 2025: Inflation stays high as food prices defy global dip

The Economic Survey, tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, said food inflation surpassed 8 per cent at several points in FY25 (April-December) due to supply disruptions