Page 17 - Union Budget

Budget 2025: From Siddaramaiah to Nitish Kumar, here are CMs' views

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar calls Budget 'progressive' while Karnataka CM SIddaramaiah said that it has given Karnataka an 'empty vessel'

A people's Budget, to lift consumption & investment: PM Narendra Modi

In his televised remarks after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget in the Lok Sabha, Modi flagged the measures for the shipbuilding industry

Budget 2025: Health care gets 9.78% boost, cancer treatment costs to drop

Customs Duty exemption for lifesaving drugs, more money for Ayushman Bharat

Union Budget supports farmers, middle class, says H D Kumaraswamy

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday said that the union budget 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will be a major step in realising the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. He described it as a budget that prioritises farmers and simplifies the lives of the middle class. "This budget reflects PM Narendra Modiji's vision and farmer-centric approach. It strongly emphasises organic farming, sustainability, and reducing input costs to benefit farmers," the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, said in a statement. Further, he added that this is a budget that strengthens farmers, increases their income, empowers the rural economy, and prepares Indian agriculture for future challenges. Kumaraswamy also expressed satisfaction with the strong push given to the electric vehicle (EV) sector in the budget. "The government is committed to increasing EV production and expanding charging infrastructure across urban and rural areas," he said, adding that t

Budget: Execution at grassroots key to unlocking India's growth, future

The focus on promoting medical tourism under the "Heal in India" initiative is a noteworthy development to position the country as a global destination for medical care

Union Budget 2025-26: Igniting growth engines for 'Viksit Bharat'

For India to grow rapidly it needs to create more jobs and opportunities for the youth

Charting a new growth path: Budget pushes gender budgeting to 8.9% in FY26

A new scheme will support 500,000 women, SC, and ST first-time entrepreneurs with term loans of up to Rs 2 crore during the next five years

Budget 2025: Projects worth Rs 4.6 trn added to pipeline, says Vaishnaw

Work on 100 Amrit Bharat, 17500 general coaches, 200 Vande Bharat trains to start

Budget disappointing as no provision of MSP guarantee, say farmer leaders

Punjab farmer leaders on Saturday said the Union Budget was "disappointing" for the farming community as it did not give a legal guarantee on minimum support price for crops. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday presented her eighth budget in Parliament in Delhi. Sitharaman announced six new agricultural schemes while increasing the subsidised Kisan Credit Card loan limit to Rs 5 lakh from the existing Rs 3 lakh, which will impact 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said raising the credit card loan limit will increase the debt burden further on farmers. The agrarian crisis will not be resolved by making farmers more indebted but by making farmers self-reliant by legally guaranteeing MSP on crops by passing a law. Protesting farmers have been demanding a law that legally assures the sale of farm produce at least at the MSP. Kohar said the Budget failed to live up to the expectations of the farming community. He said the ...

Union Budget 2025-26: Accelerating AI-driven digital transformation

AI is no longer a futuristic concept - it is an economic multiplier

Jobs & security: Gig workers to skilling, Union Budget's broad strokes

Health coverage for 10 million gig workers, new centres of excellence, more seats at IITs, medical colleges among key measures

Budget 2025: Ulip tax confusion sends insurance stocks into tailspin

Changes positive for industry, clarify experts; growing appeal of new tax regime may act as headwind for sector

Charting a new growth path: Budget projects non-tax streams poised to rise

Except in FY18 and FY19, receipts from disinvestment have remained well below the Budget targets

Non-tax revenue from telecom pegged 33% lower at Rs 82,443 cr for FY26

The non-tax revenue collection from the telecom sector has been pegged 33 per cent lower at Rs 82,443 crore for the coming fiscal, according to the Budget documents, which also placed the revised FY25 realisations a tad higher than originally expected at the beginning of the fiscal. The revised estimates for FY25 place revenue from telecom (under the head 'other communications services') marginally higher at Rs 1.23 lakh crore against the originally-expected 1.20 lakh crore. The estimates for FY26, however, have been set at Rs 82,442.84 crore, which is 33 per cent lower than FY25. Asked about the reason for estimates being pegged lower for FY26, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the revenue from telecom that goes straight to the consolidated fund of India is mainly from two heads, the AGR dues and spectrum auctions. "In the last two years, we have auctioned a huge amount of spectrum, with 5G coming into play. And it's only when that spectrum gets saturated that you will se

Union Budget 2025: Tax breaks for SWFs in infra extended by 5 years

Investments in unlisted debentures to be treated as long-term capital gains

Budget 2025: Centre sets capex goal for FY26 at Rs 11.21 trillion

The government had set a Budget Estimate (BE) for capex at Rs 11.11 trillion for FY25, against which it is expected to miss the target by Rs 93,000 crore

Budget 2025: Relief on 2 self-occupied properties, without riders

Annual limit of Rs 2.4 lakh for TDS on rent increased to Rs 6 lakh

Budget 2025 focuses on ease of doing biz, promotes manufacturing: ICAI

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) on Saturday said the Budget focuses on ease of doing business, promote domestic manufacturing and position India as a more competitive player in global trade, supporting economic resilience and growth. "Suggestions by ICAI in Pre-Budget memorandum regarding the finance bill 2025, phasing out of alternative tax regime, rationalisation of TDS and TCS regime, exemption of withdrawal from NSS and taxation of business trusts have also been accepted," ICAI President Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal said in a statement. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday presented her eighth consecutive Budget. Sitharaman announced significant income tax cuts for the middle class and unveiled a blueprint for next-generation reforms for Viksit Bharat as she treaded a fine line between fiscal prudence and providing a thrust to growth. ICAI also said deeming the annual value of two self-occupied house property as nil instead of erstwhile one, is a great

Budget 2025: FMCGs hope tax relief, rural infra funds to boost consumption

The proposed income tax relief for the middle class and increased investments for rural development will help to drive consumption and propel growth of the premium product market, leading FMCG and consumer goods makers said on budget proposals. The measures announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget will not only alleviate the burden of inflation and rising living costs but also help stimulate overall consumption, the makers said. The Union Budget 2025-26 is a bold and forward-looking plan that places the middle class at its core while ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth across all sectors," said Marico MD & CEO Saugata Gupta. For middle-class families, strategic focus on targeted tax relief and enhanced social security measures, will uplift household sentiments, boost disposable income and drive consumption, he added. PepsiCo India & South Asia Chief Executive Officer Jagrut Kotecha said Union Budget 2025 is focused on an income-led economic ...

Import duty cut to make mobile production ecosystem more competitive: ICEA

Government proposal to reduce import duty on several components as well as exemption of capital goods will reduce cost of indigenous mobile manufacturing but consumers are unlikely to get a major relief, according to an industry body. India Cellular and Electronics Association Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said that the removal of 2.5 per cent duty on mobile parts was a "nuisance" tariff which was not doing any value addition in the mobile phone manufacturing ecosystem. "The government has removed the 2.5 per cent import duty across the board. In terms of cost, it is not very significant. It will help the industry save 0.09-0.1 per cent. Overall measures announced in the budget will boost competitiveness in the Indian mobile manufacturing space which is good for attracting investments and enhancing exports," Mohindroo said. At present all major brands including Apple, Samsung, Google Vivo, Xiaomi manufacture their smartphones in India. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the union .