Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2025-26 in Parliament, marking her record eighth Budget. This is also her first full-fledged Budget in the third term of the NDA government at the Centre. In the first half-hour of her speech, the focus remained primarily on the agriculture sector with key announcements for MSMEs and exports.
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Budget 2025 Highlights
- Accelerating Growth: The Budget continues the government's efforts to boost economic momentum and ensure inclusive development.
- Fastest-Growing Economy: India remains the fastest-growing among major global economies.
- Empowering the Middle Class: Aimed at uplifting household sentiment, supporting farmers, youth, MSMEs, and women (GYAN framework).
- Strategic Focus on Energy & Exports: Ensuring energy security and boosting exports are among the key priorities.
- Agriculture & Rural Development:
- A Developing Agri Districts program will be launched, modeled after the Aspirational Districts Program.
- Crop diversification, improved irrigation, and enhanced credit will benefit 1.7 crore farmers.
- Post-harvest storage facilities will be strengthened.
- A Makhana Board will be set up in Bihar to boost the production and processing of fox nuts.
- Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan limit increased to Rs 5 lakh.
- A National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds will be launched.
- Fisheries & Cotton Production:
- A new framework for sustaining fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and the high seas.
- A five-year mission to promote cotton production. - Powering MSMEs & Exports:
- MSMEs contribute 45% to India's exports, and policies will focus on further enhancing their global competitiveness. - Transformative Reforms: The Budget focuses on six key areas:
- Taxation
- Financial Sector
- Power Sector
- Urban Development
- Mining
- Regulatory Reforms