New Delhi: Amid sloganeering by opposition leaders, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman starts presenting a record 8th consecutive Union Budget on Saturday (February 1, 2025) at 11 am. “This Budget includes our government’s efforts towards—a) accelerate growth, b) secure inclusive development, c) inaugurate private sector investment, d) uplift household sentiments and e) enhance spending power of India’s middle class,” the minister said in her opening speech.
FM invokes Telugu poet, says country is jts people
“A country is not just a soil, a country is its people,” the minister says, while remembering the words of Telugu poet, Gurajada Venkata Apparao.
“For us Vikshit Bharat encompasses zero poverty, 100% quality good school education, access to high quality, affordable and comprehensive healthcare, 100% skilled labour with meaningful employment, 70% women in economic activities and farmers making our country the food basket of the world,” she said, while highlighting her government’s focus on inclusive growth.
Focus on ‘Garib, youth, annadata and nari’, FM announces PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana
The Finance Minister said the proposed developments in this Budget spans 10 broad spectrum areas focusing on ‘Garib’ (the poor), youth, ‘annadata’ (food provider or farmers) and ‘nari’ (women). She called agriculture as the first engine of the development process while introducing the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, or the developing agri-districts programme.
The scheme will cover 100
districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average parameters in phase 1, benefiting 1.7 crore farmers. It will focus on creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural areas, ensuring that migration remains an option rather than a necessity.
“PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana – developing agri districts program…Our government will undertake a PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana in partnership with states. Through the convergence of existing schemes and specialised measures, the program will cover 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average credit parameters. It aims to enhance cultural productivity…” FM said
Other proposals for agriculture
- Bihar to get Makhana board as a ‘special opportunity for people of Bihar.’ The board will do ‘handholding’ for Makhana farmers in Bihar, give them training and ensure that they get all government benefits.
- Six-year mission on ‘atma nirbharata’ (self-reliance) in production of pulses, with special focus on tuar, urad and masoor (different varieties of lentils). Central agencies will procure these pulses from farmers for the next four years.
- Comprehensive programme for fruits and vegetables to promote production, efficient supplies, processing and remunerating pricing for farmers will be introduced in partnership with the states.
- Farmer producer organizations and cooperatives will be set up
- National mission on high-yielding and climate resilient seeds with a focus on commercial availability of such seeds
- Sustainable harnessing of fisheries from Indian Exclusive Economic Zones and high seas, with special focus on Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Programme for cotton farming with focus on technology
- Kishan Credit Cards—Loan limit to be enhanced from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh
- Scheme to augment urea production with a plant to be sent in Assam