Page 54 - Nirmala Sitharaman

Economy will regress into 'fragile five' if Cong manifesto implemented: FM

If Congress' poll manifesto were to be implemented, the Indian economy currently ranked among the top five globally, would regress into the "fragile five", Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday. She claimed the Congress poll document is "more akin to a Muslim League document" and the BJP is duty-bound to question its import. Sitharaman's attack comes against the backdrop of the 'conducting an economic survey and x-ray of society' remarks made by Rahul Gandhi and the BJP's allegation that Congress is planning redistribution of wealth if voted to power. "It is the worst manifesto which is not in the interest of the nation," Sitharaman said. Speaking at a meeting with select journalists in Pune, the finance minister wondered whether the Congress has conducted the necessary financial planning to fulfil the assurances listed in its manifesto. "I know they are not coming to power, but I would still like to ask, even if the subject of the Congress manifesto were to b

FM's clarification on capital gains tax could see markets recover on Monday

Ambareesh Baliga, an independent market analyst believes the markets want 'more of the same' in terms of income tax-related policies - continuity amid a stable regime

Strong capex, domestic demand behind India's growth performance: IMF

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the interim budget, proposed to raise the capital expenditure target by 16.9 per cent to a record Rs 11.11 trillion for FY24-25

UPA tenure lost decade, India's growth not arithmetic inevitability: FM

Calling the ten years of UPA tenure India's lost decade because of bad policies and corruption, Sitharaman said growth in GDP does not happen automatically and requires a lot of effort

India needs stable govt to achieve goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047: FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday underscored the need for a stable government to achieve the goal of becoming Viksit Bharat by 2047. "Our Prime Minister has set a target that by 2047, we need to reach the destination of a developed India," she said while addressing students of GITAM University here. "We have to make efforts, so the GDP grows, and the benefits reach to all. GDP growth doesn't happen automatically; efforts are required at micro and macro levels and on the ground," she said. The image of the country is also important, along with the ranking of your GDP, she said, adding that all these factors matter, along with per capita income calculations. "Unless the GDP is widened, we are not going to be able to meet the demands of the economy. We need investment, services to grow, educational institutions, and money for people to buy houses, start businesses," she added. She also criticised former Finance Minister P Chidambaram for questioning the developmental pac

LS election phase 2: FM Sitharaman, Rahul Dravid among early voters

Polling was underway on Friday in 88 constituencies spread across 13 states and union territories in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging people to cast their votes in record numbers. Polling started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Asserting that their vote is their voice, Modi especially told the youth and women voters to turn up at the polling booths in great numbers, and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also urged voters to come out and vote to protect democracy from the clutches of dictatorship. He also said that the Constitution should reverberate in their hearts before they push to voting button. In Kerala and Karnataka, long queues of voters were seen outside polling booths as soon as voting started. However, there were reports of EVM breakdowns in various booths across Kerala, delaying the election process in those places. Polling in underway at 20 Lok Sabha seats in .

Inheritance tax may nullify decade of progress, says FM as she casts vote

Sitharaman also said that the inheritance tax directly impacts the middle class and aspirational class

Congress plans to target middle class with inheritance tax: Sitharaman

Sam Pitroda argued that his remarks were merely a discussion on policies in the US and not a proposal for India

Chandrasekhar writes to FM over unpaid dues to Kerala's govt employees

Training guns at the CPI (M) government, Chandrashekhar stated that for several months, the salary of pensioners has not been paid by the Kerala government

Lot of people coming back to India to establish business: FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said reverse migration had started as a lot of people are coming back to establish business here. According to her, reverse migration has started in which a lot of people, who have a global footprint, are finding businesses, professions and careers to be built in India. "Ideally, India should be a country which is worth for our grandchildren to stay and live and lead their lives and contribute for the country rather than run away from here because opportunities, job satisfaction, career enhancement, are better there and not here," the FM said during an interactive meet on Economy and The Vision for 'Amrit Kaal-2047.' The event was organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Of India, Southern India Regional Council here in Bengaluru. Sitharaman appealed to chartered accountants to bring more informal businesses on the formal side so that they can reap the benefits of the open world. According to her, small businesses pref

Govt aims to make India attractive for manufacturing, services: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the Centre has tailored policies to make India an attractive destination for manufacturing and services, and the aim was to produce not just for the domestic market but for exports as well. She was responding to a query on American tech billionaire Elon Musk postponing his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Policies have been made to attract investments. We want manufacturers and investors to come and produce not just for India but also for exports. We will try to attract manufacturers and investors through policies," she told reporters. Tesla CEO Musk on Saturday said his visit to India has been delayed due to the company's heavy obligations. "When big companies show interest to come to India, we will do everything to make it attractive for them to come and invest. In that process, if there is anything to discuss, we will certainly discuss. But whatever we have done, we have done it through policy," Sitharaman ...

BJP may bring back electoral bonds after 2024 elections: FM Sitharaman

Electoral bond issue: Finance Minister Sitharaman said electoral bonds could be reintroduced with improvements for transparency and stakeholder consultations if BJP came back to power after the ongoin

BJP wants to continue loot: Cong on Sitharaman's remarks on electoral bonds

The Congress on Saturday hit out at the BJP over Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's reported remarks that electoral bonds will be brought back after consultations, alleging that after looting Rs 4 lakh crore of public money, they want to "continue the loot." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh's attack on the BJP came after Sitharaman told the Hindustan Times that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to bring back electoral bonds in some form after consultations with all stakeholders if it is elected back to power after the 2024 general election. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has declared that if the BJP returns to power, they will bring back the Electoral Bonds that the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional and illegal!" "We know that the BJP looted Rs. 4 lakh crore of public money in the #PayPM scam. Now they want to continue the loot," he alleged. Ramesh listed what he said were the "four methods of PayPM." "Prepaid Bribery - .

India fastest growing economy during last 3 financial years: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Tuesday that India has been the fastest growing economy in the last three consecutive financial years and this growth can continue in the coming years as well. She said the next 25 years will be critical for India. In the financial year 2023-24, India witnessed a growth rate of eight per cent in three quarters and is expecting a similar level of growth in the fourth quarter, she said, adding it has been a sustainable growth. "India has been the fastest growing economy in the last three consecutive financial years and this growth can continue in the coming years as well. The next 25 years will be very critical for India," Sitharaman said in a dialogue programme with industrialists and businessmen. She said that foreign investors are coming to invest in India due to the credibility of its economy. "Due to the economic policy, larger macroeconomic stability, stable government, stable taxation policy, transparent tenders and ...

PM Modi's assertion of working 24x7 for 2047 not just slogan: Sitharaman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that he is committed '24x7 for 2047' is not just a slogan but what he really puts in practice, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. Speaking at a function to release a book 'The Art of Implementation: How Modi ki Guarantee is Delivered', edited by BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Sitharaman listed out projects such as the opening of zero balance 'Jan Dhan' accounts, rolling out of Janaushadhi Kendra across the country and completing projects dating back to five decades as examples of the prime minister's work ethic. The finance minister said that after coming to power in 2014, the prime minister had spelt out a clear three-point agenda complete pending projects, ensure saturation coverage of all initiatives and help aspirational districts in implementing various development initiatives. "When the prime minister mentions '24x7 I am committed for the sake of 2047', it is not just a slogan. That is what he does," she ...

Sitharaman takes exception to Stalin's 'migratory bird' jibe at PM Modi

Senior BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday took exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's "migratory bird" jibe made at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent visits to the state, saying the very usage was not proper. She also slammed the ruling DMK over issues including the drug menace in the state. "The chief minister says the PM is coming to Tamil Nadu like a migratory bird. Anyone can travel anywhere in the country. The very usage is wrong... CM is in such a situation that he makes remarks like these," she said addressing an election meeting here. She was canvassing votes for the party's Krishnagiri nominee for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls, C Narasaimhan here. The PM has brought investments and the Defence Corridor, which has benefited Hosur in the district, but "they (DMK) come here only for collection," she said. In an apparent reference to the DMK's first family, she said there was much "proof" that alleged drug kingpin Jafar Sadiq, arrested by the NCB i

Reviving disinvestment

This must be a top priority for the next govt

Siddaramaiah accuses Sitharaman of lying on drought relief fund to K'taka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday alleged that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lied when she said that the drought relief fund was not released because the Model Code of Conduct is in force. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Sitharaman sought to defend the Centre saying procedures to release funds had taken time by which time the MCC came into effect. She said that after the Karnataka government submitted a memorandum in October and the inter-ministerial central team conducted a spot assessment, the release of drought relief had to go through a few procedures and that it had taken time. According to the finance minister, the central authorities had written to the Election Commission on March 28 to get prior approval to convene a high-level committee, given that the Model Code of Conduct in force -- and the EC's approval is awaited with regard to the grant of drought relief. Siddaramaiah said the state had submitted its memorandum for drought relief in Decem

Worrying that Bengaluru suffers from water-related issues: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday hit out at the Siddaramaiah government over the water crisis in Bengaluru and alleged that many irrigation and water-related projects and initiatives were halted by the Congress when it came to power in Karnataka last year. She also criticised the Congress government for the deteriorating law and order in the state. Addressing a press conference here, the Union Minister said it is very worrying and sad that the city suffers from water-related problems. "Just water not being available is a problem. Since yesterday reports of unfortunately cholera possibly spreading in the town is also a very big concern...It is sort of a worry but I think it is also somewhat because people don't have enough water available, contaminated water also reaches people and as a result they are put to difficulties," she said. Blaming the state government for halting irrigation and water-related projects, Sitharaman said various steps that have been taken

DMK spreading false propaganda on Katchatheevu, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday accused the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu of spreading a false campaign on the Katchatheevu islet, ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974, and for making "irresponsible" statements on the issue. Then DMK president and TN Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was aware of the ruling Congress' move but did not object, she said. The Congress, which failed to come to power in Tamil Nadu after 1967, owes an explanation to the nation for the loss of the territory which former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi described as a tiny mass of rock, she said. Sitharaman claimed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had described Katchatheevu as a "nuisance." "Let them set right the lies they have been saying for half a century," Sitharaman told reporters after an interaction at the Viksit Bharat Ambassador campus dialogue programme here. Ahead of the April 19 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, the Katchatheevu issue has taken centre stage in the state, after Pr