Budget Session highlights: Govt using 99% borrowings for capex, which is 4.3% of GDP, says FM
Parliament Budget Session: Catch all the Parliament updates here
 "Nirmala Sitharaman budget speech")
Nirmala Sitharaman
Govt using 99% borrowings for capital expenditure, which is 4.3 per cent of GDP, says Sitharaman The Rajya Sabha covered various topics during Question Hour, including discussions about operational airports across India, airfare pricing for Prayagraj during Mahakumbh. The Upper House agreed to a two-hour extension to complete its Union Budget discussions. During Zero Hour, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi urged the government to conduct a population census soon, stating that approximately 140 million people in India are unable to access benefits under the food security law. Sonia Gandhi said beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are being identified as per the 2011 Census, and not the latest population numbers.
The first part of the Budget session of the Parliament began on January 31 and will continue till February 13. The session will reconvene on March 10 and continue till April 4.
Participating in the discussion on Union Budget 2025-26 in the Rajya Sabha, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said the Union Budget conveniently hides the realities of the time like stagnant growth, growing inequality, and a sizable demographic dividend slipping off the fingers. Siva highlighted that 1 per cent of people in the country controlled around 41 per cent of the wealth and that the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. Siva also pointed out the lack of support from the central government in running various schemes in states.
Trinamool Congress MP Ritabrata Banerjee said the unemployment rate among the youth has gone up drastically in 2023-24.
"The latest Economic Survey data is showing that every year in the self-employed male workers the real earnings are decreasing constantly from 2017-18," he added.
1:48 PM
On October 29, 2024, the Centre expanded Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to provide free treatment benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per year to 6 crore senior citizens belonging to 4.5 crore families, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
Hospital admissions worth over Rs 200 crore authorised for senior citizens till Jan 28: Rajya Sabha told
At least 1.10 lakh hospital admissions worth Rs 202.96 crore have been authorised for senior citizens aged 70 years and above as on January 28, Union Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
More than 47 lakh eligible senior citizens have enrolled for Ayushman Vay Vandana cards till February 6, Jadhav said in a written reply.
On October 29, 2024, the Centre expanded Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to provide free treatment benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per year to 6 crore senior citizens belonging to 4.5 crore families, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
1:23 PM
Participating in the debate on the Budget, Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan said the expenditure on schemes meant for the minority groups have been slashed over the years.
He said the allocation for pre-matric scholarships for minority groups students had a budget of Rs 433 crore in 2023-24, but only Rs 94 crore was released, and in 2024-25, the allocation was Rs 326 crore, but only Rs 90 crore was spent.
He added that this time, the allocation for this scheme is Rs 195 crore. Similarly, he said the post-matric scholarship had a budget of Rs 1145 crore in 2024-25, which is down to Rs 413 crore this time, while a merit-cum-means scholarship scheme for professional courses, which had Rs 33.80 crore allocation in 2024-25, had been given only Rs. 7.34 crore this time.
"Madrassa and minority schemes used to get crores... In 2023-24, the allocation was Rs 10 crore, in 2024-25 it was Rs 2 crore, and this time, it is just Rs 1 lakh," he said.
Budget does not reflect 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas': Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha
Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday slammed the Union Budget claiming it fails to deliver on the government's trumpeted 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' slogan as it has cut allocations for schemes for minorities and overlooks concerns of farmers, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Participating in the debate on the Budget, Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan said the expenditure on schemes meant for the minority groups have been slashed over the years.
"The Budget or any policy document depicts the government's philosophy. In this Budget of 2025-26, minorities have been totally overlooked. The welfare schemes for minorities, the programmes have been either shut or allocations have been cut," he said.
He said the allocation for pre-matric scholarships for minority groups students had a budget of Rs 433 crore in 2023-24, but only Rs 94 crore was released, and in 2024-25, the allocation was Rs 326 crore, but only Rs 90 crore was spent.
He added that this time, the allocation for this scheme is Rs 195 crore. Similarly, he said the post-matric scholarship had a budget of Rs 1145 crore in 2024-25, which is down to Rs 413 crore this time, while a merit-cum-means scholarship scheme for professional courses, which had Rs 33.80 crore allocation in 2024-25, had been given only Rs. 7.34 crore this time.
"Madrassa and minority schemes used to get crores... In 2023-24, the allocation was Rs 10 crore, in 2024-25 it was Rs 2 crore, and this time, it is just Rs 1 lakh," he said.
1:15 PM
Dubbing demonetisation and GST as the biggest impediments to economic growth, the Kannauj MP said frequent changes in the GST formula by the government gives little chance to small traders to adapt.
He also demanded that farming equipment bought by farmers should be exempted from GST.
"Farmer agitations across the country are the biggest indicator of the government's failure," he claimed. The SP chief said to spur economic development, it was important that youths get employment based on their skills.
Demanding proper skill mapping, he said educated youths are working as delivery agent due to proper job avenues.
Govt policies have forced educated youths to work as delivery agents: Akhilesh Yadav in LS
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said farmer agitations across the country are the biggest indicator of the government's failure and said its policies have forced several educated youths to work as delivery agents.
Participating in the debate on the Union Budget in Lok Sabha, he said the Budget has no roadmap for a "vikisit Bharat".
Dubbing demonetisation and GST as the biggest impediments to economic growth, the Kannauj MP said frequent changes in the GST formula by the government gives little chance to small traders to adapt.
He also demanded that farming equipment bought by farmers should be exempted from GST.
"Farmer agitations across the country are the biggest indicator of the government's failure," he claimed. The SP chief said to spur economic development, it was important that youths get employment based on their skills.
Demanding proper skill mapping, he said educated youths are working as delivery agent due to proper job avenues.
11:53 AM
Govt using 99 pc borrowings for capital expenditure, which is 4.3 pc of GDP: Sitharaman
Govt using 99 pc borrowings for capital expenditure, which is 4.3 pc of GDP: Sitharaman
11:53 AM
Budget balances national development necessities with fiscal priorities: FM Sitharaman
Budget balances national development necessities with fiscal priorities: FM Sitharaman
11:53 AM
World's scenario in last 10 years turned 180 degrees; making Budget is more challenging than ever before: FM
World's scenario in last 10 years turned 180 degrees; making Budget is more challenging than ever before: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
11:52 AM
Inflation trend, particularly food, appears to be moderating: FM in Lok Sabha in reply to discussion on Budget
Inflation trend, particularly food, appears to be moderating: FM in Lok Sabha in reply to discussion on Budget for 2025-26
11:51 AM
Govt says 2.05 cr farmer IDs created under Digital Agriculture Mission
More than 2.05 crore farmer IDs have been generated under the Digital Agriculture Mission, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur, in his written reply to the Lok Sabha, said the State Farmer Registry under the Digital Agriculture Mission covers all landholder farmers, including women farmers.
Farmers Registry application also has the provision to onboard the tenant and lessee farmers. A state can decide to include such farmers in the Farmers Registry as per the state's policy.
"As of February 2, a total of 2,05,26,912 farmer IDs have been created...," Thakur said.
11:28 AM
Will raise India's Got Latent video in front of Parliament: BJD MP Patra
“I am a member of the standing committee, we will be raising this issue. We will be demanding there should be strict guidelines and punitive action should be taken to make sure any random person should not be making such statements which are vulgar, cheap, and it is extremely condemnable,” BJD leader Sasmit Patra said.
11:09 AM
News update: What is the agenda behind making people shift from old regime to new regime, asks Sangli MP
11:06 AM
Hema Malini slams Samajwadi Party for comments on Maha Kumbh Mela arrangement
"Many people are going to Mahakumbh before 26th February. Everything is very organised, everybody is praising it. An accident occurred but that does not mean the Kumbh is a failure. Everything there is very well managed by Yogi ji," Hema Malini said.
10:00 AM
What is the vision of this government in this Budget: Kapil Sibal
We want India to move forward, and we will all support you, if you give us a dream Budget, Independent MP Kapil Sibal said.
9:58 AM
This budget is made for the rich, says SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
"This budget is a targeted budget, this budget is focused for those who are very rich, big people, industrialists. This budget is made for them," Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said.
9:20 AM
2 CMs were required to clear a 300 km jam: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav raised questions on the traffic management at the Maha Kumbh.
8:49 AM
'Our economy is very shaky today': Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale
Alleging that the NDA government has destroyed India's economy, Saket Gokhale stated that demonetisation and a reduction corporate taxes has led to a weakening of the economy.
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First Published: Feb 11 2025 | 10:51 AM IST
