Nirmala Sitharaman

Fertiliser subsidy bill likely to double to ₹3.4 trillion in FY27

Rising global fertiliser prices and support extended to oil retailers are squeezing fiscal space, though the government says its capital expenditure plans remain unchanged

FM Sitharaman to review flagship schemes, RRBs in West Bengal: Report

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will soon review the implementation of various flagship schemes, including Jan Dhan, Mudra and PM Vishwakarma, with public sector banks and regional rural banks in West Bengal, government sources said. Last month, BJP came to power with a landslide victory in West Bengal replacing Trinamool Congress, which had ruled the state for 15 years. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had met Sitharaman in New Delhi on Monday. The sources said Sitharaman will also review the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme to strengthen capital infrastructure in Bengal. She will assess the saturation drive of various flagship schemes like PMJDY, Mudra, PM Vishwakarma and Kisan Credit Card in Bengal. The minister will also review the RRBs in the state, sources said, adding credit offtake will also be discussed in the meeting. This would help the state contribute to India's growth journey in industrial development, expanding ...

Over 580 mn Jan Dhan accounts bring crores of Indian into banking system: FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that over 58 crore Jan Dhan accounts have brought crores of Indians into the formal banking system. The Jan Dhan scheme has ensured that benefits under welfare schemes, low-cost insurance, and pensions reach without leakages, the Finance Minister's office said in a post on X. "Garib Kalyan is Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi's guarantee of dignity, opportunity and empowerment for every Indian," she said. India has stood out globally in its fight against poverty and deprivation, she added. Launched on August 28, 2014, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is one of the world's largest financial inclusion initiatives. Fifty-six per cent of the PMJDY account holders are women, while 67 per cent of accounts are opened in rural and semi-urban areas. As much as Rs 45 lakh crore was transferred directly to beneficiary accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Ninety-four per cent of India's adult population has a bank account ...

India needs fiscal space, not just subsidies, to weather crises

If India had created more fiscal space in the three good years following the end of the Covid crisis in 2022-23, it would have more options to deal with the current one

Tax rebates: FY26 provisional expenditure, revenue show need for a rethink

The provisional expenditure and revenue numbers for 2025-26 underline the need for reviewing tax rebates

FM Sitharaman forgot fourth F - falling private investment: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had forgotten the "all-important fourth F" -- falling rates of private investment -- while calling for greater focus on the "3Fs" of fuel, fertiliser, and forex. Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said winning elections through large-scale manipulation of electoral rolls is one thing, but recognising what really ails the economy with humility and sobriety and taking remedial actions is an entirely different matter. "The FM has said that the 3Fs -- Fuel, Fertilisers, and Forex -- are matters of great concern. But she forgets the all-important fourth F: Falling rates of private investment that have been in evidence these past few years," Ramesh said on X. He pointed out that net FDI inflows have declined, while private corporate investment as a percentage of GDP has fallen to half of its pre-2014 peak. Indian businesses are seeking more predictable and profitable ventures abroad, and .

FM Nirmala Sitharaman flags 3 Fs: Fuel, fertiliser, foreign exchange

Says West Asia crisis bringing several uncertainties for businesses, common people

FM Nirmala Sitharaman pitches customised credit models for MSMEs

FM Nirmala Sitharaman urged SIDBI and banks to adopt customised, cash-flow-based lending instead of standardised credit products for MSMEs

India offers talent, growth opportunities via GIFT city: FM 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

Sitharaman, US envoy Gor discuss deepening India-US economic partnership

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

Congress should stop being 'obstructionists', says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

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

PMJJBY, PMSBY settle claims worth ₹25,160 cr since their launch in 2015: FM

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 ...

FM Sitharaman hints at Covid-like fertiliser subsidy for farmers

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

Sebi must lead KYC simplification across system: Finance Min Sitharaman

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

IDBI Bank disinvestment process to continue: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

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

Domestic consumption sustaining growth momentum, says FM Sitharaman

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

Sitharaman meets banks on AI risks after concerns over Anthropic's Mythos

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

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