Budget 2022: Nirmala Sitharaman To Hold Consultations With Top Economists Today

FM Sitharaman has held six such pre-budget consultations till now with the latest one held on December 18 with stakeholders from health, education, rural development and water and sanitation

New Delhi: With Budget 2022-23 likely to be presented in February next year, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday will hold pre-budget consultations with top economists. The meeting will be held virtually.

"Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair Pre-Budget consultations with prominent economists tomorrow afternoon, 22nd December 2021, in New Delhi in connection with the forthcoming General Budget 2022-23,” the finance ministry said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Since December 15, Sitharaman has been consulting various stakeholders on the Budget. The finance minister has sought inputs from industry bodies, farmer organisations, economists and experts of the services sector for reviving consumption and growth which is hit by the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

In the run-up to Budget, the finance minister has held the first meeting with agri experts and agro-processing industry. So far, Sitharaman has held six such pre-budget consultations with the latest one held on December 18 with stakeholders from health, education, rural development and water and sanitation.

Apart from Sitharaman's pre-budget consultations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been interacting with industry leaders as well.  Modi held pre-budget interactions with CEOs of companies on Monday from various sectors of industries.

 Earlier, Modi interacted with leading private equity/venture capital players looking for suggestions on making India a more attractive investment destination.

During the interaction, PM Modi spoke about the inherent strength of the country, displayed during the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Just like the country aspires for a podium finish at the Olympics, the country also wants to see our industries among the top five of the world in every sector, and this is something for which we should collectively work towards,” Modi said, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Thanking CEOs for their inputs and suggestions, the PM stressed on making full use of policies such as the Production Linked Incentive scheme.

The Prime Minister underlined policy reforms saying that the Centre is firmly committed to taking initiatives that will give impetus to India's economic progress.