Page 2 - Union Budgets

Budget 2025: NCRTC gets Rs 2,900 cr for regional rapid rail project

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), India's first regional rapid rail project, has received an allocation of more than Rs 2,900 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26 announced on Saturday. The NCRTC has started its operation in Delhi from January 5 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 13-km section of the corridor from Sahibabad in Ghaziabad to New Ashok Nagar in the national capital. The NCRTC received a total outlay of 2,918 crore in the current budget, while it was Rs 3,855 crore in last budget's revised estimates. The union budget for 2025-26 was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday. After the inauguration of the NCRTC's Delhi section, commuters from the national capital can reach Meerut South in just 40 minutes. Currently, two stations -- Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar -- are operational in Delhi, while a third one is under construction at Sarai Kale Khan. The 82-km Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor originat

Budget 2025 among the most balanced budgets; to bring bulls out of shackles

Budget 2025 Highlights: As expected, the union government has very little room for fiscal maneuvering and has tried to maintain a fine balance

'Nothing new, all about Bihar elections': Opposition slams Budget 2025

The Opposition has slammed Budget 2025 as 'all about Bihar elections', calling it biased and neglectful of common people, the middle class, and key states

UDAN scheme to improve regional connectivity with 120 new destinations: FM

Finance Minister revealed plans to facilitate the construction of Greenfield airports in Bihar, aimed at addressing the state's future aviation needs

Budget 2025: Kisan Credit Card limit increased from Rs 3 to 5 lakh

According to expert this increase in loan limits will help farmers overcome immediate financial needs that could arise during crop cycles

President offers dahi-cheeni to FM Sitharaman before presenting Budget FY25

This marks Nirmala Sitharaman's eighth consecutive Budget, making her the first Finance Minister of India to achieve this feat, surpassing former Prime Minister Morarji Desai's six consecutive Budgets

Govt's pace of work tripled with focus on middle class: President Murmu

The President's previous two speeches to joint sittings of Parliament, on January 31, 2024, and June 27, 2024, had stressed on the government's efforts at empowering the "four pillars"

India's demographic edge: A key to addressing global healthcare crisis

The global healthcare sector is grappling with a severe shortage of skilled professionals, driven by aging populations and escalating healthcare demand

Union Budget 2025-26: Key challenges in power infrastructure outlined

The Budget presents a unique opportunity to revisit some of the key modernisation programmes, said Shardul S Fadnavis, Partner & Utility transformation leader, PwC India

Budget 2025: Brokerages predict income tax cuts, consumption boost

Any hike in welfare spending could act as a sentimental positive for cement and rural recovery, said Jefferies, betting on Bharti Airtel, Ultratech Cement and TVS Motor to benefit from such calls

FM participates in halwa ceremony, marking final stage of Budget 2025 prep

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday participated in a traditional halwa' ceremony, marking the final stage for the preparation of Union Budget 2025-26 to be unveiled on February 1 in the Lok Sabha. The ceremony is a customary ritual in which traditional dessert halwa' is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the finance ministry who are involved in the preparation of the budget. It is organised in the basement of North Block, which houses the ministry in the national capital and is attended by the finance minister and other high-ranking officials. According to sources, the Finance Minister participated in the ceremony and also took a round of the Budget Press and reviewed the preparations besides extending her best wishes to the officials concerned. Sitharaman is going to present Budget 2025-26, the eighth straight budget in a row, on the backdrop of GDP growth moderating to 6.4 per cent in the financial year as against 8.2 per cent recorded in the previou

Budget 2025 Halwa Ceremony: All about this North block pre-budget tradition

The Central Secretariat's North Block will host the Halwa ceremony today, Jan 24. This marks the conclusion of the Union Budget preparation process and will be presided over by FM Nirmala Sitharaman

What products and services may see their prices change in Budget 2025?

The Finance Minister is expected to prioritise economic growth, domestic manufacturing, and offer relief to consumers in the upcoming budget to address inflation, fiscal consolidation, and job creatio

Commerce dept seeks to extend 2 export schemes ahead of Union Budget

The commerce department is now seeking an additional allocation of Rs 1,600-1,700 crore, which will allow the government to drag the scheme till March 31

Budget FY26: Goldman Sachs highlights focus on fiscal deficit, growth

India's elevated public debt-to-GDP ratio remains a concern. A reduction in the general fiscal deficit from 8 per cent in FY25 to 7 per cent by FY30 is critical to keeping public debt sustainable

Business Standard poll: Experts see FY26 nominal GDP growth at 10-11%

The first advance estimates released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Tuesday estimated a nominal GDP growth of 9.7 per cent for FY25

Budget for outcomes: Governance and financing reforms hold the key

The challenges to inclusion need to be addressed head on with governance changes and higher untied funding with community accountability and ownership

Japan's cabinet approves record $730 billion budget for next fiscal year

But record tax revenue is likely to help reduce new bond issuance to 28.6 trillion yen, the lowest since 2008

Sitharaman to hold pre-Budget talks with state finance ministers on Friday

The official further noted that this year's Budget consultations are particularly significant due to the political outcomes of recent state elections

Punjab & Sind Bank plans to raise Rs 3,000 cr from infra bonds this month

State-owned Punjab & Sind Bank plans to raise Rs 3,000 crore from maiden infrastructure bonds this month as part of exercise to raise resources to expand loan book. "We have taken board approval for raising Rs 5,000 crore from infrastructure bonds in tranches. As against that, the bank proposes to raise Rs 3,000 crore in the first tranche," Punjab & Sind Bank Managing Director and CEO Swarup Kumar Saha said. Asked about the timing of fundraise, he said, it would be tentatively in the third week of this month. The base issue size is going to be Rs 500 crore, with a greenshoe option of Rs 2,500 crore. In accordance with RBI guidelines, these papers would have a tenure of 10 years. They have been rated as 'AA' by domestic rating agencies. The bank proposes to utilise the proceeds in the next two quarters. These bonds would be listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) for trading. The bank is aiming at the credit growth of 13-14 per cent during the current financial ...