The Union Budget 2025–26, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, aims to boost economic growth with a focus on inclusivity. The budget’s guiding theme is “Sabka Vikas,” highlighting that economic progress should benefit everyone.
At the heart of the plan is the vision of a Viksit Bharat. This means tackling poverty, ensuring everyone has access to quality education, affordable healthcare, and full employment opportunities. The budget also emphasizes increasing women’s roles in the economy and valuing farmers’ contributions to global food security.
Key Themes in Budget 2025:
Growth for All: The budget aims to sustain economic growth while encouraging private investment. It highlights strengthening purchasing power in the middle class as a priority.
Four Focus Groups: Development policies focus on four key groups: the poor, youth, farmers, and women. The government wants to share the benefits of progress widely across different regions.
Investment Engines: The government identified four areas to drive growth:
- Agriculture
- Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
- General Investment
- Exports
Agricultural Initiatives:
The new Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana aims to enhance productivity and crop diversity in 100 districts. There’s a focus on improving irrigation, storage, and providing better credit access for farmers. A new mission aims to boost domestic production of pulses, providing price stability and encouraging higher output.
Support for MSMEs:
Aimed at growth, the budget includes increasing investment limits for MSMEs, making them more competitive. New schemes will provide loans to first-time entrepreneurs, particularly women and marginalized communities. With MSMEs accounting for 45% of India’s exports, the aim is to position them for better global market entry.
Investment Strategy:
Investment plans include improving broadband access in schools and health centers. New initiatives will focus on skilling and education, including setting up Centres of Excellence in AI. The government aims to support infrastructure through multi-year project pipelines.
Export Strategy:
The budget seeks to enhance exports with a coordinated approach across ministries. A digital platform, BharatTradeNet, will streamline trade documentation and financing, making it easier for businesses to access global markets.
Fiscal Overview:
The fiscal deficit is projected to decrease from 4.8% in 2024–25 to 4.4% in 2025–26, with a clear commitment to fiscal consolidation. Notably, key tax reforms could make income tax more favorable, with no taxes for those earning up to ₹12 lakh.
With these initiatives, the Budget 2025–26 lays a grounded roadmap for India’s future, focusing on inclusive growth and sustainable development. As public sentiment towards the budget remains positive, it reflects optimism for economic resilience in the coming years.
For more detailed insights, you can explore the Economic Times Budget Coverage.
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Budget,budget 2025,union budget,India budget,viksit bharat budget,Indian economy
