PM Modi lauds FM Sitharaman's parliament address, says it gave "very clear vision" of Indian economy

New Delhi [India], February 15 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's address in Parliament, stating that it provides a clear picture of the Indian economy and the reform trajectory the government is undertaking.

Prime Minister Modi posted on social media platform X, "During her remarks in Parliament, Finance Minister @nsitharaman Ji has given a very clear picture of the Indian economy and the reform trajectory we are undertaking."

While replying to a debate in the Parliament, the Finance Minister described the difficulty of making the Union Budget this year due to the uncertain global landscape, adding that the government still priortised on growth.

In her reply to the debate in Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said that the Union Budget 2025-26 aims to ensure inclusive development, with a focus on accelerating growth and boosting private sector investment.

Replying to the discussion on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said that the budget was prepared during a challenging time, with serious external challenges beyond estimates or forecasts.

She said the government has been strengthening cooperative federalism and working with transparency.

The Finance Minister said that the Union Budget 2025-26 aims to ensure inclusive development, with a focus on accelerating growth and boosting private sector investment.

Replying to the discussion on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said that the budget was prepared during a challenging time, with serious external challenges beyond estimates or forecasts.

"Despite this, we have tried to keep the assessment as accurate as possible, keeping India's interests paramount," she said.

Sitharaman added that India's economy is projected to grow by 6.4 per cent in real terms and 9.7 per cent in nominal terms in 2025-26, according to the first advance estimates from the National Statistical Office (NSO).

"Though the grant in aid for creation of capital assets is accounted as revenue expenditure in the books of Union Government, yet they go to the states to create capital assets, so eventually it's capital expenditure," she said.

The Union Finance Minister informed the House that the effective capital expenditure in this Budget is projected at Rs 15.49 lakh crore as against Rs 13.18 lakh crore in the revised estimate of 2024-25, adding that there is no reduction in the expenditure.

Sitharaman said the government has not cut down on sectoral allocations.

She added that the government has allocated Rs 1.71 lakh crore to the agriculture and allied sectors while Rs 2.67 lakh crore has been allocated to Rural Development. Allocation to Urban Development and transportation was Rs 6.45 lakh crore, Health & Education Rs 2.27 lakh crore, Defence excluding pension Rs 4.92 lakh crore.

The minister said that the New Employment Generation Scheme announced in the July Budget has three different schemes within it.

"One, which will take care of first time job seekers; second one is regarding job creation and manufacturing where employer is incentivised. Third one is to support employers," she said. (ANI)

(The story has come from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Tribune Staff.)