Budget 2021 Speech HIGHLIGHTS: BJP Leaders Praise FM Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget, Opposition Calls It 'Election Jumla'

Budget 2021 FM Nirmala Sitharaman Speech LIVE Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget on Monday asserting government's effort to reset the economy with a massive push to healthcare sector. However, there was not much relief for middle class taxpayers in her fiscal plans for 2021 as Sitharaman decided to keep the income tax rates unchanged. Keep refreshing this page to get all LIVE UPDATES:

Background

India is keen to know what will unfold for them when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2021-2022. While this year's budget is unique and is already making history by going paperless, people are anxious to know Nirmala Sitharaman will break the record of the past 100 years. 

As India is still fighting the Covid 19 crisis and conquering its own battles to recover from the losses faced during the Covid 19 crisis, the common man is expecting Nirmala Sitharaman's budget to focus on spending for creating more employment, to develop rural areas, generous allocations for development schemes, putting more money in the hands of the average taxpayer and easing rules to attract foreign investments to bring the country's economy back on track.

Breaking a significant tradition, this year's Budget will be unique as it will be paperless due to the Covid 19 pandemic. This is the first time in the history of independent India that budget papers will not be printed, so as to minimize the possibility of social interaction and maintain social distancing norms.

This year, FM Nirmala Sitharaman also launched a mobile app by the name 'Union Budget Mobile App' for hassle-free access to Budget documents by the MPs and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience. The app provides Budget 2021 Live Streaming and budget 2021 speech.

Calling it the "simplest form of digital convenience", the Finance Ministry stated, "The mobile app facilitates complete access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill, etc., as prescribed by the Constitution."

21:00 PM (IST)  •  01 Feb 2021

All Sections Of Society Taken Care Of: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan

"This Budget is the Budget of self-reliant India. All sections of the society have been taken care of in this Budget. I believe this is the Budget to turn the disaster into an opportunity during COVID pandemic": Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

20:32 PM (IST)  •  01 Feb 2021

'Union Budget 2021 Is Balanced': Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

"Union Budget 2021 is balanced and has clarity on all aspects. I congratulate Finance Minister for bringing such a budget despite the adverse impacts of COVID-19,": Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

20:11 PM (IST)  •  01 Feb 2021

'Budget Of Opportunities': PM Modi

#AatmanirbharBharatKaBudget is a budget of opportunities, which will further growth in a wide range of sectors. This is a Budget that will further ‘Ease of Living’ and bring many positive changes for individuals, investors, industry and infrastructure. https://t.co/0AkbvFUsbw

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 1, 2021

20:02 PM (IST)  •  01 Feb 2021

Budget Allocation To Defence Sector Increased To 4.78 Lakh Cr For FY21-22

The allocation to Defence in the Budget has been increased to 4.78 lakh cr for FY21-22 which includes capital expenditure worth Rs 1.35 lakh crore. This will give a big push to Defence Modernisation. RM thanked PM &FM for increasing defence allocation. #AtmaNirbharBharatKaBudget pic.twitter.com/VWgG2C6iit

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) February 1, 2021

19:40 PM (IST)  •  01 Feb 2021

'Leaving The Country Entirely In Commercial Interest': Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan On Budget 2021

"The Budget proposals to privatise more public sector companies & increase foreign investment in the insurance sector indicates that the government will withdraw from all sectors, leaving the country entirely in the commercial interest": Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said as quotes by news agency ANI.