It is the maiden budget for Sitharaman. She is the second woman finance minister after Indira Gandhi to do so in the history of independent India. Indira Gandhi held the Finance portfolio while being the Prime Minister.
Presenting the first full-fledged Union Budget of Narendra Modi 2.0 government in Parliament, Sitharaman said from no single Indian institute in top 200 universities ranking until five years ago, the country has three institutions in the top 200 global institutions bracket.
9.6 crore toilets have been constructed since October 2, 2014. More than 5.6 lakh villages have become open defecation free. We have to build on this success. I propose to expand the Swachh Bharat mission to undertake sustainable solid waste management in every village
Talking about the proposed offer on tax rebate for individuals earning up to Rs 5,00,000 under Section 87A of the Income Tax Act, Jaitley said the middle class has been strengthened and it will "make up close to 44 percent of the population by 2024".
Finance Minister Piyush Goyal delivered the budget speech in Lok Sabha on Friday and proposed to lift the income tax exemption limit to 5 lakh. Also, many sops for small and marginal farmers and unorganised sector were announced
