Budget 2024: As the Budget Session is all set to commence from 11 am onwards in the Lok Sabha today (February 1), Amrit Kaal took center stage in President Droupadi Murmus maiden address to the joint sitting of Parliament.Speaking from the majestic new Parliament building on January 31, she called it a witness to the productive dialogue on policies that will shape the development of Viksit Bharat in the Amrit Kaal.What is PM Modis Amrit KaalPrime Minister Narendra Modi first coined the term Amrit Kaal in his Independence Day speech in 2021. He defined it as the 25 years between 2022, Indias 75th year of independence, and 2047, the centenary year.PM Modi envisioned these 25 years as a golden era for the country to make rapid strides in development and improve citizens standard of living. He urged people to work together through sabka saath, sabka vikas to realize this vision.He said, The goal of Amrit Kaal is to ascend to new heights of prosperity for India and the citizens of India. We dont have to wait for long to achieve our goals. We have to start now. We dont have a moment to lose. This is the right time. Our country also has to change and we as citizens must change ourselves too.The philosophy of Amrit Kaal entails bridging urban-rural divides, reducing government interference, building modern infrastructure, and enabling growth with equity.When Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the 2023 budget, she called it the first budget of Amrit Kaal laying out seven priority areas - inclusive development, reaching the last mile, infrastructure and investment, unleashing potential, green growth, youth power and financial sector reforms.Will Budget 2024 be a roadmap for Amrit KaalAs the PM Modi-led government presents its final full budget before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on February 1, the roadmap for Amrit Kaal will again take center stage.Sitharaman is widely expected to focus on job creation, boosting manufacturing, policies for marginalized sections, and fiscal consolidation in her bid to make India a $5 trillion economy.Economists have called for continuing infrastructure spending, incentives for the digital economy and exports, direct cash transfers, and measures to revive private investment to power Amrit Kaal programs.The budget will also be watched for populist measures like income tax cuts, cash transfers to farmers, and other voter-friendly announcements with polls nearing.While Amrit Kaals overarching goals are clear, its success depends on flawless implementation and coordination between the Centre, states, and citizens. The budget will be a crucial opportunity for the government to match economic priorities with electoral pressures.
