Who is Nirmala Sitharaman

The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran, and NITI Aayog officials

Exemptions under review include bulk drugs used in insulin production, raw materials for lab-grown diamonds, plastics used in optical fiber production, and more

Memes flooded the internet as the GST Council confirmed an 18 per cent tax on caramelised popcorn. Here are some of the most hilarious memes

A finance ministry spokesperson, the GST Council Secretariat and a spokesman for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party did not respond to requests for comment on the controversy

Parents sacrifice their lives and save every penny to educate their children and prepare them for the exams but the BJP government has turned their dreams into a source of income, said Priyanka Gandhi

The Punjab government has proposed an incentive of Rs 2,500 per acre, with Rs 2,000 per acre from the Centre and Rs 500 per acre from the state

She further said that the GST Council has also deferred the decision with regard to rate rationalisation as more time is required by the GoM for a comprehensive study

Infrastructure development emerged as a key focus area, with states calling for dedicated funding for state-specific road and railway projects

In addition to this, the Union finance minister stated that the Centre has created an additional dispensation under SASCI for the states affected by disaster of a severe nature as assessed by the Inte

In the Budget for 2024-25, Sitharaman had hiked the allocations for interest-free loans to states for capital expenditure, enabling states to spend more on infrastructure and specified reforms

The official further noted that this year's Budget consultations are particularly significant due to the political outcomes of recent state elections

The sector has long been demanding infrastructure status, which will help it avail debt at a lower cost and boost reinvestment of profits within the industry

The Enforcement Directorate has restored assets worth Rs 22,280 crore to victims or rightful claimants from cases involving economic offences, the finance minister informed Lok Sabha

She said Rs 14,131.6 crore worth properties belonging to fugitive Vijay Mallya have been restored to public sector banks

The Indian economy grew 6.7 per cent in the April-June quarter and 5.4 per cent in the July-September period of FY2024-25

In her nearly 80-minute speech, Sitharaman said the Congress keeps questioning the Sangh Parivar about its role during the freedom movement

She also alleged that it was "anti-woman" for failing to get the women's reservation bill passed when it was in power

Congress President and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge accused BJP of twisting and distorting facts, as well as being against reservation

She said the amendments were not to strengthen democracy but to protect those in power and strengthen the family

Opening the Rajya Sabha debate on Monday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused previous Congress-led central governments of suppressing freedom of speech