-By ArdorComm News Network
February 3, 2025
New Delhi, Feb 1 – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025-26, outlining significant tax relief and economic measures aimed at boosting growth. The budget proposes an expenditure of ₹50.65 lakh crore, marking a 7.4% increase over the previous fiscal year.
A key highlight was the tax relief benefiting India’s middle class. Individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh annually will pay no income tax, saving ₹80,000, while those earning ₹24 lakh or more could save ₹1.10 lakh. Additionally, a new Income Tax Bill will be introduced next week to replace the 1961 Income Tax Act.
Key Announcements
- Tax Reforms: No tax on income up to ₹12 lakh under the new regime.
- TDS Simplification: Measures to ease compliance burdens.
- Tariff Reduction: Customs duty on Harley-Davidson motorcycles cut ahead of PM Modi’s US visit.
- Intelligence Budget Cuts: Reduced allocations for NSCS and Intelligence Bureau.
- Manufacturing Incentives: Tax exemptions on EV and mobile phone battery components.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the budget a “people’s budget,” emphasizing its role in increasing investments and citizen participation in development. However, opposition leaders, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, criticized it for being election-focused and lacking job creation measures.
Meanwhile, social media users reacted with humor, flooding the internet with memes on Sitharaman’s speech.
Source: NDTV