All posts tagged: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

A portfolio-wise breakdown of Union Budget 2026-27| India News

A portfolio-wise breakdown of Union Budget 2026-27| India News

Published by Parlour News

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget 2026–27 on Sunday, announcing major allocations across railways, defence, agriculture, MSMEs, healthcare and infrastructure, alongside key changes in income tax provisions. Nirmala Sitharaman leaves the Finance Ministry carrying the Finance Budget ahead of the presentation of Budget 2024 in Parliament at North Block in New Delhi. (PTI File) Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Budget as “historic”, calling it a “highway of immense opportunities” that would accelerate India’s Reform Express and strengthen the foundation for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Also Read | ₹5,000 crore to develop CER around temple towns, tier-2, 3 cities”>Budget 2026: ₹5,000 crore to develop CER around temple towns, tier-2, 3 cities While the transport sector, including the Indian Railway and roadways, had the biggest share earmarked in the Budget, the defence spending got a major boost in this year’s Budget. Sector-wise allotment of resources In the Union Budget 2026–27, transport sector saw the highest allocation at ₹5,98,520 crore, followed closely by defence at ₹5,94,585 crore. Rural development has been allotted …

Key takeaways from Budget 2026| India News

Key takeaways from Budget 2026| India News

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An 81-minute long Budget speech of finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman saw no change in tax slabs but included major announcements that focused on three “kartavyas” or duties of the central government – accelerating and sustaining economic growth; fulfilling aspirations of the people; and the vision of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman outside the finance ministry prior to the presentation of the ‘Union Budget 2026-27 at Kartavya Bhavan (Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times)) Among the major announcements was a move that made stock derivatives trading costlier – a call that crashed the stock market – a proposal allowing Individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs) to invest in equity instruments of listed Indian companies through the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) and a massive spike in defence budget allocation. 10 takeaways from Budget 2026 -Budget speech duration: Finance minister’s Budget speech – her ninth consecutive one – this year was around 81 minutes long. She laid out proposals reflecting “action over ambivalence, reform over rhetoric and people over populism” with the aim to transform aspiration into …

Budget 2026 Prioritizes Yuva Shakti for Inclusive Growth and Opportunities | Business News

Budget 2026 Prioritizes Yuva Shakti for Inclusive Growth and Opportunities | Business News

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Last Updated:February 01, 2026, 11:33 IST Nirmala Sitharaman presents Budget 2026 with a Yuva Shakti-driven roadmap, focusing on supporting the poor and inclusive growth through a threefold approach for opportunities. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (News18) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2026 on Sunday, said the government’s focus will be on a “Yuva Shakti-driven” budget inspired by “three kartavyas” aimed at supporting the poor, underprivileged and disadvantaged sections, highlighting that it is the government’s duty to fulfil the aspirations of the people. Follow Live Updates Here She added that the budget will follow a threefold approach designed to build a supportive ecosystem for inclusive growth and opportunities. Presenting the Budget in Parliament, Sitharaman said, “Since we assumed office 12 years ago, the country’s economic trajectory has been marked by stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation. This is the result of conscious choices we have made even in times of uncertainty and disruptions.” She said the government has pursued wide-ranging structural reforms while maintaining fiscal prudence and monetary stability, alongside a …

Will stock markets remain open today for Budget 2026? Check details here| India News

Will stock markets remain open today for Budget 2026? Check details here| India News

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Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 in the Parliament today, in her ninth such presentation including one interim budget. Even though the stock market is typically closed on Sundays, on February 1, which is also falling on a Sunday, they will remain open on account of the Budget presentation. The finance minister will present the Union Budget for 2026 at 11 am in the Parliament. (Representational Photo/REUTERS) While issuing a clarification on whether the stock markets will remain open today or not, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) had announced that equity markets will remain open for trading today. Track live updates of Income Tax announcements in Budget 2026 “On account of the presentation of the Union Budget, members are requested to note that Exchange shall be conducting a live trading session on February 01, 2026, as per the standard market timings (9:15 am–3:30 pm),” NSE said in a circular. The finance minister will present the Union Budget for 2026 at 11 am in the Parliament. …

Global trade getting weaponised through tariffs: Nirmala Sitharaman

Global trade getting weaponised through tariffs: Nirmala Sitharaman

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 India only safeguarded its domestic industries against flooding which happens from a “predator”, the Finance Minister said. File | Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) said global trade is increasingly “getting weaponised” through tariffs and other measures, and India will have to negotiate its way carefully. She said that the overall strength of the economy will give the country an added advantage. “Trade is getting weaponised through tariff, through many other measures and India will have to negotiate its way carefully in this, and not just take care of tariff but I think overall our economy strength is what is going to give us that additional advantage,” Ms. Sitharaman said at Times Network‘s India Economic Conclave 2025. She said that globally it is now “very clear” that trade is not free and fair. “India can be lectured saying you (India) are very inward-looking, you are a tariff king and so on. But tariff has been weaponised,” she said adding India’s intention was never to weaponise tariffs. Also Read …

Many states in difficulty due to freebies, high committed expenditure, says FM Sitharaman | India News

Many states in difficulty due to freebies, high committed expenditure, says FM Sitharaman | India News

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Stating that there is a thin line between investing money in productive assets and giving freebies, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said many states are “in difficulty” as such giveaways are piling up. Posing questions about states’ finances, she asked if there is no way to rationalise committed expenditure of states, especially if they are beyond affordable limits. “Many states are in difficulty because these are piling up. I am not naming anybody, any state. But there are states which have, and I am afraid to say this, 70 per cent of their revenues going for committed expenditure. When I say committed, it’s salaries, pensions, they have to give it. I am not saying don’t give. But 70 per cent? With 30 per cent, what else will you do? Especially in a growth phase when so much has to be done for keeping the buoyancy of the economy. And what for is this 70 per cent? Do you need that many people? Is there no way in which we can rationalise? Will companies run …

Karnataka seeks release of Rs 4,195 crore for centrally sponsored schemes | Bangalore News

Karnataka seeks release of Rs 4,195 crore for centrally sponsored schemes | Bangalore News

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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Wednesday that the Karnataka government will urge elected MPS from the state to pressure the Central government to release its share of Rs 4,195 crore allocated to centrally sponsored schemes (CSS), which has been pending for the 2024-25 fiscal. He was speaking following a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) held to review the implementation of CSS in the state. For the 2024-25 fiscal, the total expenditure on CSS was Rs 46,859 crore, of which the Centre’s share was Rs 22,758 crore and state’s share Rs 24,101 crore. “However, the Centre has released only Rs 18,562 crore; the remaining amount of around Rs 4,000 crore is yet to be released by the Centre,” he said, pointing out that the state was spending more than the Centre to finance the 67 CSS. Story continues below this ad The CM said that during the 2024-25 fiscal year, due to the delay in the Central government’s release of funds, only 83 per cent of the total funds allocated for these …

How Budget 2025 empowers India’s cities as engines of economic growth | UPSC Current Affairs News

How Budget 2025 empowers India’s cities as engines of economic growth | UPSC Current Affairs News

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(The Indian Express has launched a new series of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and scholars on issues and concepts spanning History, Polity, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology, and so on. Read and reflect with subject experts and boost your chance of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Jacob Baby, an urban planner with experience in teaching and research, analyses how the budget aims to strengthen Indian cities as engines of economic growth.) The Union Budget 2025, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasised urban development as one of the six domains for transformative reforms. This renewed focus on urban areas in the budget points to the government’s commitment to empowering cities as a vital component of India’s economic and social development.  Story continues below this ad Let’s unpack what the budget means for urban areas and how urban local bodies (ULBs) finance urban infrastructure projects in Indian cities. Budget and urban development In the 2025-26 budget, the Ministry of Housing and Urban …

Promised special package but gave ‘jhunjhuna’: Congress leader on Budget for Bihar | Latest News India

Promised special package but gave ‘jhunjhuna’: Congress leader on Budget for Bihar | Latest News India

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Feb 02, 2025 01:46 PM IST Congress’ Pramod Tiwari expressed concerns over reduced funding for crucial sectors such as education, rural development, and MGNREGA in the budget. After Bihar took centre stage in the Union Budget, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari came down hard on the Central government and said that the state was promised a special package but received only a “Jhunjhuna”. Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said, ‘They have reduced the education budget and then will talk about Viksit Bharat.'(PTI) Speaking to ANI, Tiwari expressed concerns over reduced funding for crucial sectors such as education, rural development, and MGNREGA in the budget and questioned the government’s commitment to its “Viksit Bharat” vision. “The government made income up to ₹12 lakhs tax-free but the same person will have to pay GST. The amount that they have waived off – twice that amount people need to pay one way or another. They have reduced the education budget and then will talk about Viksit Bharat,” he said. “They have cut short the budget for rural development …

Budget 2025: Tech in Focus With Framework for GCCs, New ‘Fund of Funds’ for startups, CoE for AI

Budget 2025: Tech in Focus With Framework for GCCs, New ‘Fund of Funds’ for startups, CoE for AI

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New and emerging technologies were in focus in the Union Budget, as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a national framework for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), Rs 500-crore Centre of Excellence in AI for education, and said a deep tech ‘Fund of Funds’ will be explored to catalyse the next generation startups. A new Fund of Funds, with expanded scope and a fresh contribution of additional Rs 10,000 crore is also on anvil. A national framework will be formulated as guidance to states for promoting Global Capability Centres in emerging Tier-2 cities. This will suggest measures for enhancing availability of talent and infrastructure, building byelaw reforms, and mechanisms for collaboration with industry. “I had announced three Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for agriculture, health, and sustainable cities in 2023. Now a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for education will be set up with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore,” Sitharaman said. Startups have a reason for cheer also as a new ‘Fund of Funds’ with expanded scope and a fresh contribution of additional …