Nirmala Sitharaman

Sitharaman accuses Stalin of creating 'false narrative' over paddy bonus

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

Reducing import dependence: Renewable energy can play a significant role

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

Big dharam sankat: FM Nirmala Sitharaman on small savings rates

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

West Asia war has evolved into 'systemic tremor': FM Nirmala Sitharaman

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

Current year more challenging amid West Asia crisis concerns: FM Sitharaman

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

A corporate model goes political: Twenty20 may disrupt Kerala politics

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

Sabarimala issue: 'Even God is not safe' in Kerala, alleges FM Sitharaman

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 ...

IBC Bill passed; FM highlights land authorities can join CoC meetings

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

Insolvency law crucial in improving health of banking sector: FM Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

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

CoC must list reasons for approving resolution plan in new IBC Bill: FM

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

FM Sitharaman vs Opposition | Massive uproar in Lok Sabha over falling rupee

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.

Insolvency law crucial in improving health of banking sector: FM Sitharaman

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 of the country's banking sector, including recovery of non-performing assets. Piloting a bill for further amending the IBC in the Lok Sabha, the minister stressed that companies have been doing well and their corporate governance practices have also improved after coming out of the insolvency resolution process. She made the remarks while replying to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as reported by the Select Committee. The Bill has proposed 12 amendments to the IBC, which came into force in 2016. The IBC has been a main and very crucial factor in improving the health of the country's banking sector, Sitharaman said, adding that more than half of the NPAs (Non-Performing Assets) have been recovered by the banks through the resolution process. On August 12, 202

FM Nirmala Sitharaman scotches rumours of lockdown like Pakistan

"...The government is taking burden, making sure oil marketing companies (OMCs) will ensure buying more and doing supply, and keeping the supply uninterrupted," she said

GST reforms have boosted economy, says FM Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

Sitharaman says rise in auto sales, tractors and cement output shows GST rate cuts supported demand, even as concerns remain over uneven price transmission

India riding on reform express, reforms happening with clarity: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said India is riding on the reform express and reforms are happening with conviction and clarity. Replying to the debate on Finance Bill 2026 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, "Reform is not happening out of compulsion, but out of conviction, with clarity, confidence and commitment. India is riding on the reform express under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." She further said there is a trust-based tax administration that is being improved by reducing unnecessary hardship for honest taxpayers. The government has taken various steps to empower MSMEs, farmers, and cooperatives because they are at the heart of creation of employment for production and for the overall development of India, she said. This Finance bill aims to support them with very many measures that improve liquidity but also reduce the compliance burden and give them the opportunity to have greater contribution towards the larger economy, she ...

No proposal for complete farm loan waiver under consideration: Sitharaman

There is no proposal of a complete loan waiver for farmers under consideration with the central government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament on Monday. However, she said, the government has taken several measures to strengthen the economic conditions of the farmers, including timely and adequate credit through Kisan Credit Card (KCC), wherein crop loan up to Rs 3 lakh is provided at subsidised interest rates under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), with additional incentives for timely repayment. Besides, the government has enhanced collateral free short-term agricultural loans, including loans for allied activities, from Rs 1.60 lakh to Rs 2.00 lakh and ensuring adequate flow of credit from the banking system to the priority sectors of the economy, including agriculture, under Priority Sector Lending guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), she said in a reply to the Lok Sabha. Additionally, the government has launched crop insurance

Lok Sabha refers Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill to joint Parl panel

The Lok Sabha on Monday referred the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to a joint parliamentary committee comprising members from both Houses of Parliament for a detailed analysis and recommendations. The decision was taken following a voice vote after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman suggested it. Earlier, after the Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha, opposition members Manish Tewari (Congress), Saugata Roy (Trinamool Congress) and T Sumathy (DMK) strongly opposed it, alleging that the legislation sought to dilute the provisions of law under which companies mandatorily have to pay 2 per cent of their profits towards corporate social responsibility (CSR). The finance minister strongly refuted the allegations and said that the Bill has been introduced after two years of deliberations. She said the apprehensions of the members were unfounded as the Bill seeks to amend only the criteria of net profits, not the entire clause related to CSR. Sitharaman then suggested to Speaker O

Kerala did not avail ₹311 cr national disaster mitigation fund: Sitharaman

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday told the Lok Sabha that approval for central grants is one thing and applying for the amount by the states is another thing as she mentioned that Kerala did not avail Rs 311.95 crore as part of national disaster mitigation fund. The minister was responding to supplementaries during the Question Hour on the arrears of grants and amounts pending from the central government towards Kerala. Sitharaman, who is in charge of the finance and corporate affairs ministries, said a state has to provide the utilisation certificate so that the next round of funds can be released. For instance, she said there was a specific case related to Kerala where despite the allocation, the Kerala government has not even drawn the amount. An amount of Rs 311.95 for the National Disaster Mitigation Fund that includes Rs 72 crore for risk mitigation project in the landslide-affected territories of Wayanad. Another Rs 17.73 crore was approved for forest fire mitigat

New I-T Act to ease compliance for small taxpayers: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister says expanded presumptive taxation and simplified provisions under the new law will reduce compliance burden and litigation for small businesses and professionals

West Asia crisis: Ramping up domestic LPG output, says FM Sitharaman

Shipping constraints through the Strait are expected to persist in the near term, with global supply adjustments taking time