Page 13 - Nirmala Sitharaman

GST reforms drive record festive demand, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

She said this marginal deviation was due to cases where input taxes remained higher than output rates, leading to small adjustments before products reach consumers

GST rate cuts reaching consumers, reforms widely welcomed: Sitharaman

Sitharaman explained that while a few products witnessed a smaller-than-expected pass-through, overall, the rate cuts have effectively translated into lower prices for consumers

Increase agricultural credit to meet rural India's demands: FM to banks

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged rural banks to increase agricultural credit disbursement to meet the growing demand of new rural India, while reviewing the business performance of Karnataka Grameena Bank (KaGB) here. According to an official statement, Sitharaman chaired the meeting, attended by Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary M Nagaraju, NABARD Chairman Shaji K V, and other senior officials from the finance ministry on Thursday. During the review, Sitharaman assessed key indicators, including credit growth, NPAs (Non-Performing Assets), financial inclusion, and the implementation of government-sponsored schemes by KaGB. She advised the bank to increase its share in ground-level agriculture credit disbursement, with special focus on emerging areas of the economy. Sitharaman also directed all stakeholders to take steps to realise the potential of allied agricultural activities in the region. KaGB and Canara Bank should work closely with state ..

Nirmala Sitharaman reviews KaGB, focuses on FPO and MSME lending

Finance Minister reviews Karnataka Grameena Bank's performance in Ballari, calling for greater focus on rural lending, MSME support, and FPO financing for inclusive growth

FM Sitharaman inaugurates Farmers Training Centre in Karnataka under MPLADS

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday inaugurated a Farmers' Training and Common Facility Centre under the MPLAD scheme here. The centre in Kasapura village aims to train self-help groups (SHGs) and farmers through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to enhance value addition to their agricultural produce, officials said. The facility has been set up in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), they added. Launched in 1993, the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme allows MPs to propose development projects in their constituencies for community assets such as roads, drinking water, and sanitation. Fully funded by the government, these projects aim to address local needs through durable infrastructure implemented by district authorities. "Together, these efforts will enable both groundnut and tamarind value chains to thrive, while also strengthening Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) with marketing support. A

FM Sitharaman urges farmers to utilise govt schemes for higher profits

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday urged farmers to make full use of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) to turn agriculture into a profitable venture. Speaking after inaugurating the Farmers' Training and Common Facility Centre in Koppal district, Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, said the new generation GST reforms will also benefit agrarian communities. The facility was set up using her MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund. PMFME was launched to support value addition in agricultural products. The Centre provides financial and technical assistance and helps businesses upgrade under the scheme, she said. Sitharaman added that the government aims to promote rural entrepreneurship to generate jobs in villages. "More than Rs 3,700 crore funds have been given by the Centre to states till now since 2020. Loans have been provided to farmers. Rs 11,000 cr

FHRAI urges FM Sitharaman to restore ITC, delink F&B GST from room tariffs

Hospitality body seeks regularisation of past GST dues, restoration of input tax credit for hotels, and flexibility in F&B taxation linked to room pricing

Sitharaman launches farmers' training, agro-processing centres in Karnataka

Finance Minister is expected to visit the farmers' training and common facility centres for agro-processing to inaugurate them in four districts, including Vijayanagara, Bellary, Koppal, and Raichur

Govt urges Tatas to resolve boardroom dispute to maintain group stability

Tata Trusts dispute focuses on trustee seats on Tata Sons board, group's business direction, and handling minority shareholder Shapoorji Pallonji's planned exit

More than resilience, economy needs hard-nosed reforms to sustain growth

It is necessary to see the challenge posed by the prevailing situation as an opportunity and respond effectively to make the economy competitive

Tata Trusts rift intensifies: Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman intervene- what’s going on?

The government has stepped in to resolve a major leadership crisis brewing within Tata Trusts. On October 7, top leaders from the Tata group, including Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, Tata Trust

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Ayodhya on two-day visit

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Ayodhya on Wednesday for a two-day visit. Sitharaman was received at the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport by Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna and Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, according to an official statement. Traditional melodies filled the air as her convoy, under tight security, proceeded to Hotel Radisson, before she began her scheduled engagements. Sitharaman's visit marks a special cultural event at Brihaspati Kund in Tedhi Bazaar, where she, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will unveil the statues of three legendary South Indian musicians -- Tyagaraja Swamigal, Purandara Dasa and Arunachala Kavi -- the statement said. The statues installed in the Brihaspati Kund complex stand as timeless symbols of India's musical, devotional and artistic heritage, it added. These saint-musicians infused divine devotion into Indian classical music, making it the spiritual essence of the country's

How GIFT City's new forex settlement system can be a game-changer for India

The new real-time foreign currency settlement system situates GIFT City among global financial centres like Hong Kong and Tokyo, with a promise of faster transactions and better liquidity

Noel, Chandra meet Shah, Sitharaman amid rising tension at Tata Trusts

It is learnt that the govt decided to intervene and called an urgent meeting to help resolve a crisis at the leading business house of the country and deliberate on ''misgovernance'' at Tata Trusts

Amit Shah, Sitharaman meet Tata Group trustees amid boardroom dispute

Tata Group trustees, including Noel Tata and N Chandrasekaran, met Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman amid internal disputes over board appointments at Tata Sons

Tech must not be weaponised to thwart global progress: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister asks fintechs to focus on trust, safety and financial inclusion

Sitharaman launches foreign currency settlement system at GIFT City

We should refrain from weaponising technology: FM Sitharaman at Global Fintech Fest 2025.

Sitharaman launches campaign to return ₹1.84 trn unclaimed financial assets

Most of the locked-up funds are in the form of deposits, insurance, provident fund, and shares, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, calling on officials to ensure they reach the rightful owners

India must shape global outcomes, not remain passive spectator: Sitharaman

'Very foundation of the global order is shifting beneath our feet,' says Finance Minister

Private sector sees scope in India as govt maintains capex push: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said India's capacity to absorb external shocks is strong at a time when the world economy is undergoing a structural transformation. She said the task before nations is not only to manage uncertainty but to confront trade, financial and energy imbalances. "Geopolitical conflicts are intensifying. Sanctions, tariffs, and decoupling strategies are reshaping global supply chains... For India, these dynamics highlight both vulnerability and resilience. Our capacity to absorb shocks is strong, while our economic leverage is evolving. "Our choices will determine whether resilience becomes a foundation for leadership or merely a buffer against uncertainty," Sitharaman said at Kautilya Economic Conclave 2025 here. Addressing the session on 'Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times', Sitharaman said wars and strategic rivalries are redrawing the boundaries of cooperation and conflict. "Alliances that once appeared solid are being tested, and new .