Budget Session 2024: Key highlights of interim budget

Indian economy witnessed profound positive transformation in last 10 years said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as she presented her sixth straight Budget ahead of the Parliamentary elections She said that the people of India are looking ahead to the future with hope and options Structural reforms propeople programmes amp employment opportunities helped the economy get new vigour she saidAlso read Over Rs 2 lakh cr allocated to home ministry priority on internal securitySitharaman in her preelection budget which is an interim Budget sought Parilaments nod for a grant in advance to meet the expenditure for the first four months of the new fiscal year ahead of the Lok Sabha polls After the new government comes into power they will present the full budgetWhen we assumed office in 2014 the country was facing enormous challenges With Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas as its mantra the government overcame those challenges she addedAlso read Budget 2024 Nirmala Sitharamanrsquos shortest budget speech mentions PM Modi eight times quotes from his speechesKey Highlights30 crore MUDRA Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneursFemale enrollment in higher education has gone up by 28 per cent in 10 years in STEM courses girls and women constitute 43 per cent of enrollmentA scheme to be launched to help deserving sections of the middle class living in rented houses or slums or chawls or unauthorised colonies to buy or build their own houses says SitharamanGovt will be setting up more medical colleges utilising existing hospital infrastructure said FM Sitharaman A committee is to be set up to examine issues and make recommendations she addedBudget Estimates for 202425 Total receipts other than borrowings Rs 3080 lakh crores Total expenditure Rs 4766 lakh crores Tax receipts Rs 2602 lakh croresAlso read No tax incentives for homebuyers real estate continues to lack industry statusFiscal deficit in 202425 is estimated to be 5137 of GDP adhering to the path of fiscal consolidation The revised estimate of the fiscal deficit for FY 202324 is 58 per cent of GDP Sitharaman saidNo changes were made to Income Tax slabs Direct and Indirect tax rates will also remain the same Sitharaman saidGovt to expand EV ecosystem for supporting charging infra ebuses for public transport network to be encouraged said Finance MinisterAyushman Bharat cover extended to all Anganwadi and Asha workers says FMThe golden era for techsavvy youth 50year interestfree loans to be rolled outThe number of airports doubled to 149 in the last 10 yearsCrop insurance has been given to 4 crore farmers under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana says FM SitharamanAlso read Interim budget dashed peoples expectations says AAPs Swati MaliwalVarious schemes under maternal and child health care are to be brought under one comprehensive programme for synergy in the implementationUpgradation of Anganwadi centres under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 20 will be expedited for improved nutrition delivery early childhood care and developmentA newly designed UWin platform for managing immunization and intensified efforts of Mission Indradhanush will be rolled out FM SitharamanGross and net market borrowings through dated securities during 202425 are estimated to be Rs 1413 lakh crores and Rs 1175 lakh crores respectively both less than that in 202324 says SitharamanThe government will form a highpowered committee for an extensive consideration of challenges arising from fast population growth and demographic changes the committee will make recommendations to address these challenges comprehensively Nirmala SitharamanAlso read Nirmala Sitharaman hikes capital spend trims deficit for next fiscalA comprehensive programme for supporting dairy farmers will be formulated India is the worlds largest milk producer but with low productivity of milch animals the programme will be built on existing schemes Sitharaman said in her speechSitharaman said 40000 normal railway bogies will be converted to Vande Bharat standardTo address fervour for domestic tourism projects for port connectivity tourism infra and amenities will be taken on our islands including Lakshadweep FMThe outlay for infrastructure has been increased to Rs 1111 lakh crores in FY25Allocation for Ministries 62 Lakh crores to Defence and 278 lakh crore to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways