New Delhi: As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2025 in Parliament on Saturday, she outlined an ambitious vision for India Post. The minister declared that India Post will be transformed into a ‘large public logistics organisation’. India Post is one of India’s oldest institutions.
As part of this transformation, 1.5 lakh rural post offices will be integrated. This will be complemented by the India Post Payments Bank and a sprawling network of 2.4 lakh daak sevaks.
With its vast network of over 1.6 lakh Post Offices and 2.4 lakh Dak Sewaks, India Post is being repositioned to act as a catalyst for rural economic development, while simultaneously paving the way to become a leading public logistics organization, driving progress towards… pic.twitter.com/ecl2zhc44Z
— India Post (@IndiaPostOffice) February 1, 2025
“1.5 lakh rural post offices complemented by India Post Payments Bank and a vast network of 2.4 lakh daak sevaks will be repositioned to act as a catalyst for the rural economy,” Sitharaman said. This repositioning aims to address the growing demands of new entrepreneurs, women, self-help groups, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as large business organizations.
Boost for ‘Nari’
Nirmala Sitharaman, also announced considerable funding for business owners, particularly women and those from SC/ST categories. She announced a new scheme to facilitate inclusive economic growth, which gives term loans of up to ₹2 crore to first-time borrowers from these categories.
“For 500,000 first-time entrepreneurs, including women, ST and SCs, a new scheme, to be launched, to provide term loans up to ₹2 crore loan during the next 5 years,” the FM said.
Here are some other key highlights:
- The minister also announced measures to strengthen the cooperative sector. She confirmed that the government would extend support to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to strengthen its lending operations.
- 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs to be set up in government schools in next 5 years
- Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme to be implemented to provide digital-form Indian language books for school and higher education
- “National Manufacturing Mission” to cover small, medium and large industries for furthering “Make in India” announced in the Union Budget 2025-26
- A new ‘Focus Product Scheme’ for footwear & leather sectors, a scheme to generate employment for 22 lakh persons
- National Action Plan for toys to make India a global hub for toys