Budget 2024: ‘Poor, women, youth & farmers among top priorities’, says FM Sitharaman in interim budget

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the pre-election Budget today, her last under Modi govt 2.0. The Budget is likely to outline the achievements of Modi government and also give a glimpse into future plans to make India, a developed nation by 2047.

As per the tradition, Nirmala Sitharaman first met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan along with Ministers of States Bhagwat Karad and Pankaj Chaudhary.

The FM carried a red-coloured ‘bahi khata’ as she headed to the Parliament complex for presenting the interim Budget.

LIVE UPDATES:

# Every year under PM Kisan Samman Yojana, Direct financial assistance is provided to 11.8 crore farmers, including marginal and small farmers Crop insurance is given to 4 crore farmers under PM Fasal Bima Yojana These are assisting farmers in producing food for the country and for the world

# The Skill India Mission has trained 1.4 crore youth, upskilled and re-skilled 54 lakh youth, and established 3000 new ITIs. A large number of institutional higher learning, namely 7 IITs, 16 IIITs, 7 IIMs, 15 AIIMS and 390 Universities have been set up.

# PM SVANIDHI has provided credit assistance to 78 lakh street vendors, from that total, 2.3 lakh have received credit for the third time PM JANMAN Yojana reaches out Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups PM Vishakarma Yojana provides end to end support to artisans and craftspeople Scheme for empowerment of Divyang and transgender people reflects our resolve to leave no one behind

# We need to focus on the poor, women, youth and farmers / Anna Data Their needs and aspirations and welfare are our highest priority All four require and receive government support, their empowerment and well being will drive the country forward

# Our government is working towards development which is all round, all inclusive and all pervasive It covers all castes and people at all levels We are working towards making India a Viksit Bharat by 2047

# In second term, the government strengthened its mantra and our development philosophy covered all elements of inclusivity, namely social and geographical With a whole of nation approach, the country overcame challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, took long strides towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and laid solid foundations for Amrit Kaal

# Indian economy has witnessed profound transformation in last 10 years In 2014, the country was facing enormous challenges, the government overcame those challenges and undertook structural reforms, pro people reforms were undertaken, conditions for jobs and entrepreneurship were set in, fruits of development started reaching people at scale, country got a sense of new purpose and hope