Union Budget 2024 presented by Nirmala Sitharaman – LIVE
The Union Budget 2024, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23, 2024, has garnered significant attention for its focus on infrastructure, income tax reforms, and economic growth. This budget aims to address various sectors, including railways, healthcare, education, and more, with a vision of making India a developed nation by 2047.
FM Sitharaman lists 9 priorities of Union Budget 2024
- Productivity and resilience in Agriculture
- Employment & Skilling
- Inclusive Human Resource Development and Social Justice
- Manufacturing & Services
- Urban Development
- Energy Security
- Infrastructure
- Innovation, Research & Development
- Next Generation Reforms
“Monetary limit for filing Tax appeals increased to Rs 60 lacs for ITAT, Rs 2 crores for high courts and Rs 5 crores for Supreme Court…I propose to abolish the Angel tax abolished for all classes of investors. Corporate tax rate to be reduced on foreign companies from 40 to 35 percent,” she said.
Income Tax slabs under revised income tax schedule
Revised income tax slabs for FY 2024–25 under the new income tax system The new income tax system uses slabs for taxation.
Up to Rs three lakh the tax is NIL.
The tax rate runs from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh at 5%.
The tax rate is 10% from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Tax rate is 15% from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.
The tax rate, from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, is 20%.
The tax rate rises to 30% above Rs 15 lakh income.
Government lowers basic taxes on mobile phones, and mobile chargers to 15%
The standard deduction for Salaried employees to be increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75000 under the new tax regime
“Coming to personal income tax rates, I have two announcements to make for those opting for the new tax regime. First, the standard deduction for salaries employees is proposed to be increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. Similarly, deduction on family pension for pensioners is proposed to be enhanced from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. This will provide relief to about 4 crore salaries individuals and pensioners,” finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
FM announces review of income tax
“I announce a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act 1961. This will reduce disputes and litigation. It is proposed to be completed in 6 months,” Sitharaman said.
Union Budget 2024 – Custom taxes on gold and silver dropped to 6%.
“I propose to reduce customs duties on gold and silver to 6% and 6.5% on platinum,” she said.
FM Sitharaman estimates a 4.9% GDP fiscal imbalance
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, “Fiscal deficit 2024-25 is estimated at 4.9% of GDP. The aim is to reach the deficit below 4.5%.
Govt announces loans up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions
Sitharaman said the government will provide loans up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education at domestic institutions financial aid. Along with an interest subvention of three percent of the loan amount, this help will be delivered to one lakh students yearly through e-vouchers. Apart from this, the finance minister also presented many projects aimed at the domain of skill development. These comprise changing the model skill loan system, matching course material with industry skill requirements, and updating 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) utilising the hub and spoke model.
Free electricity up to 300 units per month for 1cr household under solar panel scheme
Rs 2 lakh crore set aside to hire 4.1 crore young people over next 5 years
“Huge push to consumption through increased focus and outlay for agriculture reforms, employment generation, urban housing, etc is a big positive for the consumer sector,” says Paresh Parekh, Tax Leader – Consumer Products and Retail Sector, EY India
The Budget provides Rs. 2.66 lakh crore for rural development
In her Budget speech for 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that a substantial sum of Rs. 2.66 lakh crore has been earmarked for the development of rural areas, which includes the enhancement of rural infrastructure.
“This year I have made a provision of Rs. 2.66 lakh crore for rural development, including rural infrastructure,” Sitharaman stated while presenting the Budget in the Lok Sabha
PM Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 to fulfill housing needs of 1 crore people, said Sitharaman
Announcing PM Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 to meet housing needs of 1 crore poor and middle-class people, Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Moreover, as stated by the finance minister in the Parliament, the government will help industrial workers in PPP mode to rent dormitory style accommodation.
“Under the PM Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0, the housing needs of 1 crore poor and middle-class families will be addressed with an investment of Rs 10 lakh crores. This will include the central assistance of Rs 2.2 lakh crores in the next five years,” she said.
Union Budget 2024 – Boost for infrastructure related to digital farming
Setting up digital agriculture infrastructure, annual digital crop survey and mapping of farmers to their land parcels will help to improve formal credit penetration in agriculture, which presently stands at roughly 60% by means of enhanced credit risk assessment.
Special attention to MSMEs And Credit guarantee scheme for MSMEs to be introduced
A fresh mechanism promised to enable MSMEs’ ongoing bank loan continuation during their crisis phase. Limit of Mudra loans rose from Rs 10 lakh to 20 lakh. From Rs 500cr to and Rs 250cr, turnover threshold of buyers for mandatory onboarding on TREDS platform would be lowered. 50 multi-product food irradiation units in the MSME sector receive financial help. E-Commerce export hubs established up in PPP* method will help MSMEs and traditional artists to market their goods abroad.
Internship scheme for 1 crore youths announced
Finance minister Sitharaman declared that the government is poised to start an internship programme for 1 crore young people in more than 500 companies, therefore greatly benefiting the employment and skill development sector.
“The Government will launch a scheme to provide internship opportunities to 1 crore youth in 500 top companies with Rs 5000 per month as internship allowance and one-time assistance of Rs 6000,” she said.
Mega infra boost announced for Andhra Pradesh
“Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act- Our govt has made efforts to fulfil the commitments in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Recognising the state’s need for capital, we will facilitate special financial support through multilateral agencies. In the current FY, Rs 15,000 crore will be arranged with additional amounts in future years,” Sitharaman said.
Sitharaman announces loan support of up to Rs 10 lakhs for higher education
“Government to provide financial support for loans up to Rs 10 lakhs for higher education in domestic institutions,” she said.
“Our govt will implement three schemes for employment-linked incentives as part of the Prime Minister’s package. These will be based on enrollment in the EPFO and focus on recognition of the first time employees and support to employees and employers,” she said.
Big bonanza for Bihar
The Union Budget 2024 government has budgeted Rs 26,000 crore for different road projects in Bihar, as stated by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her 2024-25 budget. The Centre will seek financial help from multilateral development agencies for the state.
The government plans to build airports, medical colleges, and sports facilities in Bihar, along with road developments. The Centre will create a strategy called ‘Purvodaya.’ This plan aims to boost overall development in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
Furthermore, the government intends to assist the creation of an industrial corridor in the eastern region. The finance minister said the government will provide e-vouchers to 1 lakh students every year. Students will also receive a 3% interest subsidy on their loans.
‘Good to see jobs, skills, and education at the core of Budget speech’
Jobs has to be at the core of economic growth. It is good to see jobs, skills, and education at the core of the Budget speech. “Translating the allocation and new initiatives into action is key,” says Nilaya Varma, Co-Founder and CEO at Primus Partners. “It must be demand-driven, not supply-driven, to ensure success.”
As of May 2025, implementation of several key initiatives from the Union Budget 2024 is underway. The government has launched an internship scheme for 1 crore youths. So far, over 25 lakh have enrolled in 300 companies. The PM Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 has started in 15 major cities.
The first payment of Rs 2.2 lakh crore in central assistance is set for Q2 FY 2025–26. The Digital Agriculture Mission has started pilot projects in six states. It combines satellite mapping with farmer land records. This helps make credit assessments easier. The new income tax structure is now on the e-filing portal. Also, the review of the Income Tax Act 1961 is almost done. The draft law should be presented in Parliament during the Monsoon Session of 2025.
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