Newsletter
It’s been impossible to avoid Budget chatter this weekend, and for good reason.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered a Budget focused on tax relief, infrastructure, and digital expansion—all while keeping a tight grip on fiscal discipline.
Quick look at some key highlights that stood out to us: 🧐
On personal taxes: The middle class got a boost—income up to ₹12 lakh is now tax-free under the new regime, up from ₹7 lakh. The hope? More disposable income, stronger consumer spending.
On infra spending: Capital expenditure is set at ₹11.11 lakh crore, keeping the government’s infrastructure engine running at full steam. Railways, roads, and housing take center stage.
On digital expansion: The government is going all-in on AI, semiconductors, and electronics manufacturing. A national AI compute facility with nearly 19,000 GPUs is being set up to push homegrown AI innovation.
On MSMEs: A ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds is being launched to support startups, while micro-enterprises will get access to credit cards with ₹5 lakh limits to improve financing.
On clean energy: A ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission has been announced to develop Small Modular Reactors, and the government is doubling down on domestic solar and EV battery production.
On defense and exports: The Budget aims to boost India’s global positioning by enhancing defense production and export capabilities, alongside new incentives for electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.
On healthcare and education: The government is expanding medical education with 10,000 new seats in medical colleges this year, working toward 75,000 new seats over the next five years. A new National Telehealth Network is being launched to improve access to mental health services in rural areas.
On agriculture and rural development: The ‘PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ will focus on enhancing crop productivity and irrigation across 100 low-yield districts.
Farmers will benefit from an increased Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan limit—now ₹5 lakh, up from ₹3 lakh.
There’s a host of other measures, from urban development schemes to new tax breaks for pension funds and gig workers.
The Budget also lays the groundwork for a new trade infrastructure strategy, with the launch of BharatTradeNet (BTN), a unified trade and export facilitation platform.
Bottom line: The Budget sticks to long-term economic planning, with an eye on growth, self-reliance, and fiscal stability.
