Page 14 - Nirmala Sitharaman

FM Nirmala Sitharaman meets leading economists ahead of FY27 Budget

Ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday met leading economists to elicit their views on the forthcoming Budget. Those present at the meeting include Sajjid Chinoy, Neelkanth Misra, Dharmakirti Joshi, Ridham Desai, Sonal Varma and Indira Rajaraman. "Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt @nsitharaman chairs the first Pre-Budget Consultation with leading economists in connection with the upcoming Union Budget 2026-27, in New Delhi, today," the Ministry of Finance said in a social media post on X. "The meeting was also attended by Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) @FinMinIndia; and Chief Economic Adviser, Government of India, besides senior officers from the DEA," it added. Sitharaman is likely to present the Budget on February 1. She will present the Budget in the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties and the steep US tariff of 50 per cent imposed on shipments from India. The Budget for the next fiscal year will .

Govt invested Rs 21,000 cr in Northeast's education sector in 11 years: FM

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday claimed that the central government has invested Rs 21,000 crore in the education sector in the Northeast in the last 11 years. Connectivity has also received a boost in the region during the period, with new states put on the railway map and several greenfield airports constructed, she added. Sitharaman, who was on a two-day visit to Assam since Friday, was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the state's first university focussed on technical and vocational education and training at Bholaguri in Gohpur in Biswanath district. The 'Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University' will be built at a cost of Rs 415 crore on a total area of 241 acres, with a built-up area of 7 lakh sq ft. "Since 2014, the Centre has invested Rs 21,000 crore in the education sector in the Northeast. Over 850 new schools have been opened. The first AIIMS in the region has become operational, and over 200 new skill development institutes have been .

Sitharaman lays foundation for Assam's first tech, vocational university

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday laid the foundation stone for Assam's first university focussed on technical and vocational education and training. The 'Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University' is being built at a cost of Rs 415 crore at Bholaguri in Gohpur in Biswanath district. The university will come up in a total area of 241 acres, with a built-up area of 7 lakh sq ft. It will feature academic blocks for 2,000 students, hostels for 1,620 students, residential quarters, guest house and a student facility centre. The university will offer courses in various technology domains, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, blockchain, drone and navigation technology, quantum computing, brain computer interface, internet of things, and smart cities and smart environments. The Union minister has been on a two-day visit to the state since Friday.

Corporate affairs ministry reworking PM internship scheme guidelines

This comes as MCA is placing first batch of interns as it races for full roll out

Big bank pursuit: FM Nirmala Sitharaman says in talks with RBI, lenders

"There is a lot of work to do prior to my saying yes. The work has already commenced. We are discussing with the RBI and banks," the finance minister said

Bank unions protest Nirmala Sitharaman's privatisation 'endorsement'

The forum cited the collapses of YES Bank, Global Trust Bank, and Lakshmi Vilas Bank as examples of governance lapses in private banks

Global value chain faces disruption, reforms driving growth: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlights global challenges, stresses infrastructure push, reform measures, and technology-led growth to boost investment and productivity

Privatising PSBs won't impede financial inclusion, says FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India's next set of customs reforms is in progress after GST, adding that the country is on track to meet its fiscal goals and become a top-three economy soon

Bank privatisation won't hurt financial inclusion or national interest: FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday allayed apprehension that privatisation of state-owned banks would hurt financial inclusion and national interest. She said the bank nationalisation done in 1969 has not yielded the desired result as far as financial inclusion was concerned. Addressing the student at the Diamond Jubilee Valedictory Lecture at Delhi School of Economics (DSE), University of Delhi here, she said that nationalisation did help in pushing priority sector lending and government programmes but government control made public sector banks unprofessional. Despite 50 years of nationalisation, the objectives that were not entirely achieved, she said, adding, "after... we professionalised the banks, those objectives are still being beautifully achieved. "So, this perception that when you try to make them professional, and if you want to privatise them, which is a Cabinet decision, that objective of reaching to all people, taking banking to everybody will be lost...

India to soon become world's third-largest economy: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India has grown from the 10th to the 5th-largest economy since 2014 and is on track to become the third-largest in the world soon

FM Sitharaman starts Bhutan tour to strengthen bilateral economic ties

According to a press statement, the visit, scheduled from October 30 to November 2, 2025, underscores India's enduring partnership with Bhutan, built on mutual trust, respect, and shared goals

₹13,000 crore mega plan taking shape to make India a global toy hub

Under the proposed scheme, the types of incentives are being planned - Turnover Linked Incentive (TLI), Localisation Linked Incentive (LLI) and Employment Linked Incentives (ELI) are being planned

Be polite in dealing with honest taxpayers: Sitharaman tells GST officers

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said GST officers should be polite and empathetic in dealing with honest taxpayers and asked them to use technology for faster registration approvals and grievance redressal. She also asked field formations to "proactively" undertake trade facilitation measures. "There is no iron wall between you and trader, there is thin air. You can understand where the difficulty is, rather than muddy it up any further," she said. Speaking at the inauguration of the CGST building in Ghaziabad, the minister flagged the need for timely conclusion of any disciplinary proceedings against officers of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). This would send a clear message from the CBIC board that any misconduct, dereliction of duty or unethical behaviour by officers will not be tolerated. She said the ultimate goal of tax administration is to make life easy for honest taxpayers and to do that GST officers should follow the laid down SoP and sho

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