By – Prakarsh Kastwar
Interim Union Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the introduction of a new plan to strengthen deep technology in the defence sector.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman promised economic reforms to stimulate growth in her speech on the Narendra Modi government’s budget, the final before the May 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Interim Budget for 2024-25 is viewed as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s economic platform, providing hints to the market about its objectives for fiscal consolidation, borrowing, and future taxation policies.
Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Thursday that India’s capital investment for 2024-25 will increase by 11% to ₹11.11 lakh crore, or 3.4% of GDP.
She stated that the tripling of capex over the last four years has had a multiplier effect on economic growth and job creation.
The minister stated that the Indian airlines have made orders for 1,000 new aircraft.
Sitharaman also stated that a new initiative will be introduced to strengthen deep technology in the defense sector. Sitharaman stated that the government will encourage public and private investment in post-harvest agricultural activities.
She stated that the use of nano DAP on diverse crops would be expanded in agri-climatic zones.
The finance minister stated that three important railway routes, including one for cement, will be built, and 40,000 regular railway bogies will be modified to Vande Bharat standards.
According to the Interim Budget documents, the defence ministry has received the greatest amount.
Here are the allocations for specific ministries.
- Ministry of Defense: ₹6.1 lakh crore
- ₹2.78 lakh crore in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- Railway Ministry: ₹2.55 lakh crore
- ₹2.13 lakh crore goes to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
- Home Affairs Ministry: ₹2.03 lakh crore
- Ministry of Rural Development: Rs. 1.77 lakh crore.
- Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers: ₹1.68 lakh crore.
- Ministry of Communications: Rs. 1.37 lakh crore.
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare: 1.27 lakh crore.