New Delhi: In a historic moment, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her seventh consecutive Budget today, outlining a comprehensive roadmap aimed at bolstering various sectors and addressing critical socio-economic needs.Sitharaman underscored the governments commitment to inclusive growth, highlighting initiatives targeting the welfare of marginalized groups. As mentioned in the interim Budget, we need to focus on four different castes: the poor, women, youth, and farmers, she stated.Aims to benefit 80 crore peopleKey highlights from her speech include significant measures for farmers, including higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for major crops, fulfilling the promise of a 50% margin over cost. The extension of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for five years aims to benefit over 80 crore people.Allocation of Rs 1.48 lakh crore Addressing employment and skilling, Sitharaman unveiled the PM Package comprising five schemes with an allocation of Rs 2 lakh crore. Education received a substantial boost with an allocation of Rs 1.48 lakh crore dedicated to enhancing opportunities in education, employment, and skilling.Financial support for Andhra Pradesh and BiharIn a nod to regional development, Sitharaman announced special financial support for Andhra Pradesh under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, with an immediate allocation of Rs 15,000 crore, supplemented by future funding through multilateral agencies.She also unveiled major infrastructure projects for Bihar, including industrial development at Gaya as part of the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor. Road connectivity projects such as the Patna-Purnea expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur highway, and development of Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbhanga route, along with a new two-lane bridge over the Ganga in Buxar, received a combined allocation of Rs 26,000 crore.Loans up to Rs 10 Lakhs for higher education On education loans, Sitharaman announced government support for loans up to Rs 10 lakhs for higher education in domestic institutions, aiming to ease financial burdens on students.The Budget also earmarked Rs 1.52 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sectors, emphasizing continued support for rural development and farm welfare.I am pleased to announce the Prime Ministers package comprising five schemes aimed at facilitating employment, skilling, and opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over five years, with a central outlay of Rs 2 lakh crores, Sitharaman affirmed.Budget provides Rs 2.66 lakh crore for rural developmentThe Finance Minister announced that increasing the participation of women in the workforce will be a priority. This will be facilitated by setting up hostels and creating partnerships to organize women-specific skilling programs.Govts push on urban housingThe Finance Minister stated that under PM Awas Yojana, Urban 2.0, the housing needs of the urban poor and middle class will be addressed with an investment of Rs 10 lakh crore.20 Lakh to be skilled in 5 yearsSkill training for 20 lakh youth over five years to one-month wage for new entrants in job market, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a slew of schemes for youngsters in the Budget on Tuesday. Sitharaman announced a Rs 2-lakh-crore PM package of five schemes to facilitate employment and skilling. A provision of Rs 1.48 lakh crore has been made for education, employment, and skilling.Nine priorities for this year and coming yearsProductivity and resilience in AgricultureEmployment and skillingInclusive HRD and social justiceMfg & servicesUrban developmentEnergy securityInfraInnovation, R&DNext generation reforms
