New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget 2024 today (February 1, 2024), ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. This marked her sixth consecutive budget presentation of Nirmala Sitharaman.
Nirmala Sitharaman began her budget speech by citing significant transformations in the country’s economy over the last 10 years.
Key budget highlights include:
➤ In the past 10 years, the Modi government has lifted 25 crore people out of poverty in the country.
➤ Crop insurance has been provided to 4 crore farmers under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana.
➤ Over 78 lakh street vendors have received assistance under the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme.
➤ Direct transfers of Rs 34 lakh crore to beneficiaries have resulted in significant government savings.
➤ Rs 34 lakh crore was directly transferred through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts to beneficiaries.
➤ More than Rs 22 lakh crore in MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) loans have been disbursed in the last 10 years.
➤ Interest-free loans to states to promote tourism.
➤ Introduction of a new housing plan for the needy middle class, with 2 crore houses to be built under PM Aavas Yojana.
➤ Over 1 crore houses will receive 300 units of free power under the new Solar Power policy.
➤ Emphasis on the ‘GDP mantra’: Governance, Development, and Performance.
➤ Inflation has been controlled, leading to improved economic development.
➤ The next five years are projected to be years of unprecedented growth.
➤ The fiscal deficit target has been revised to 5.8 per cent of GDP.
➤ Healthcare facilities under Ayushman Bharat will be extended to all Aasha workers and Aanganwadi workers.
➤ The government plans to establish hospitals in all districts.
➤ Vaccination for cervical cancer for girls aged 9-14.
➤ Women’s participation in higher education has risen to 28 per cent in the last 10 years.
➤ Women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is at 43 per cent, the highest in the world.
➤ The Skill India mission has trained over 1.4 crore youngsters with various professional skills.
➤ Plans to improve the functioning of passenger trains and enhance train safety by converting 40,000 normal train bogies into high-speed Vande Bharat ones.
➤ Furthermore, seven new IITs, 16 IIITs, seven IIMs, 15 AIIMS, and 390 universities have been established.
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