Page 56 - Nirmala Sitharaman

Budget 2024: Govt may double beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat scheme

Union Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Budget in the Lok Sabha on July 23; the Budget session of Parliament to take place from July 22 to August 12

Budget 2024 must focus on tax relief to stimulate consumption: India Inc

The Union Budget FY25 should focus on offering relief to taxpayers, especially in the lower income brackets, to stimulate consumption, industry players suggested. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the full Budget for fiscal 2024-25 on July 23 which will be the first major policy document of the new government. The industry also urged the finance minister to lower corporate tax, phase out tax exemptions, and broaden tax base to boost economic growth. "Rationalise and simplify the tax system to improve compliance and promote investment. Consider measures such as reducing corporate tax rates, phasing out tax exemptions, and broadening the tax base to make the tax regime more efficient and equitable," Assocham said. Rating agency ICRA said the government is likely to set a fiscal deficit target at 4.9-5 per cent for FY25, as against 5.1 per cent estimated in the Interim Budget on February 1, without compromising the capital expenditure target of Rs 11.1 lakh .

Fair trade, focus on manufacturing, infra on steel firms' Budget wish list

Steel companies hope the govt will continue to focus on infra expansion while also giving the industry a level playing field to compete with imports

Budget 2024: What does the healthcare sector expect from FM Sitharaman?

Union Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Budget in the Lok Sabha on July 23

Exports to jobs: 5 macro signals FM should heed ahead of Budget 2024

Rural consumption slowdown and slowing bank deposits are among other issues she should consider

Union Budget 2024: PM Narendra Modi to meet top economists on July 11

Budget 2024: At the key meeting, economists and industry experts as well as Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery will present their views and recommendations regarding the Budget

Rail stocks rally: RVNL, IRFC, TexRail surge up to 15% on July 08; check why

The GoI is focusing on improving the railway infra and ensures faster development and completion of tracks, rail electrification, rolling stock manufacturing and delivery of passenger freight services

Andhra CM meets FM Sitharaman, seeks financial aid for debt-ridden state

Ahead of the Union Budget presentation, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, pressing for enhanced financial support to the debt-burdened state. Sources said Naidu, during the meeting in North Block, highlighted various ongoing projects in Andhra Pradesh that require urgent central assistance. "The CM presented a detailed memorandum outlining the state's financial requirements and the rationale behind the demand for increased allocation," the sources added. TDP ministers in the Centre were present during the meeting. According to the state government data, the public debt of Andhra Pradesh has increased from 31.02 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2019-20 to 33.32 per cent in 2023-24 fiscal, indicating deterioration in the fiscal health of the state in the last five years. Key among Naidu's demands were funds for the Polavaram irrigation project, special assistance for backward regions, and

Big ideas for Budget D-Day

Jobs, skills and innovation should be the focal point

'Domestic flows will sustain, but will not rise meaningfully from here'

The pockets of the market in which excess exuberance can be seen will undergo a reality check of earnings and valuations, said Gautam Sinha Roy of ICICI Pru Life Insurance

New base years for national accounts, macro indicators from Jan-Feb 2026

A base year is the reference year whose prices are used to calculate the real growth (minus inflation) in national income

GDP growth expected to slow down modestly this fiscal year and next: Poll

Most economists expect the government to maintain a broad path of fiscal consolidation

Govt to give 5-yr extension for export credit scheme amid economic slowdown

In the upcoming Budget 2024, there may be a five-year extension of the scheme for pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit

Union Budget 2024: Will Bengaluru be included in 50% HRA exemption?

Currently, rented houses in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai qualify for a 50% exemption from HRA, while those in other locations (non-metro) fall into the 40% category

Govt looks to launch new index ranking states by their labour standards

The index is aimed to promote 'healthy competition' between states to improve labour welfare, productivity, social security coverage, and more

Skill and employment sector calls for job creation, GenAI courses

Gayathri Vasudevan, trustee at Sambhav Foundation, said the meeting focused largely on optimising the utilisation of existing funds

SMEs divided over impact of new 45-days payment rule. Is it a boon or bane?

The new 45-day payment rule for SMEs, effective April 2024, aims to ease working capital issues. While some SMEs welcome it, others fear adverse impacts on their businesses

Budget 2024: Rise in standard deduction limit likely in new tax system

Union Budget 2024: Standard deduction represents a portion of the income that is not subject to taxation; it serves as a comprehensive allowance for tax deductions available to salaried employees

Budget Watch: From toys to footwear, new PLI schemes knocking on the door

Amid demands from industry bodies and govt departments, the upcoming Union Budget 2024 may see PLI schemes introduced for even more items

FinMin to meet CEOs of PSBs on Jun 25, review financial inclusion schemes

The finance ministry has called a meeting of heads of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) on Tuesday to review progress of various financial inclusion schemes, including PM Vishwakarma, Jan Suraksha and Mudra Yojana. The meeting is scheduled to be chaired by Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi. According to sources, the meeting would review the progress of various flagship schemes, including PM Vishwakarma, StandUp India, PM SVANidhi , among others. Other financial inclusion related issues would also be discussed in the meeting, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year launched PM Vishwakarma scheme under which traditional craftsmen and artisans will be provided loan assistance at a minimal interest rate without the need for collateral. With a financial outlay of Rs 13,000 crore for a period of five years, the scheme will benefit about 30 lakh families of traditional artisans and craftsmen, including weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, and ...