Budget live: With a presented 6.4% growth this year, India’s GDP is predicted to rise between 6.3% and 6.8% in 2025–2026. This budget would get Nirmala Sitharaman closer to the record of ten budgets given by previous Prime Minister Morarji Desai.
Union Budget 2025 LIVE: Key Highlights from Nirmala Sitharaman’s Eighth Budget Speech
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table a record 8th consecutive Union Budget time 2025 today on Saturday (union budget 2025 time February 1, 2025) budget timing 11 a.m. It is anticipated that the budget would include financially responsible measures to support waning economic development and lessen the burden on the middle class, which is suffering from high prices and slow wage growth.
By presenting this budget, Ms. Sitharaman will draw closer to the record of ten budgets that previous Prime Minister Morarji Desai had given throughout various time periods.
It is likely that this budget will decrease or adjust income tax rates and slabs to lessen the burden on the middle class, which is already grappling with high costs and slow wage growth. It is anticipated that the budget would include financially responsible measures to support waning economic growth. india budget It will probably concentrate on measures to increase consumption while adhering to the fiscal deficit reduction plan income tax slab.
The 2024–25 Economic Survey, presented to Parliament on Friday (January 31, 2025), projects that India’s GDP would expand between 6.3% and 6.8% in 2025–2026 from an anticipated 6.4% this year.
When will budget 2025 be announced?
Today budget news Union Budget 2025 of India is expected to be announced on February 1, 2025 by the Finance Minister. budget session 2025 This follows the tradition of presenting the budget on the first day of February each year.
Since 2024 is an election year, the government presented an interim budget on February 1, 2024, and the full Union Budget 2025 will be announced after the new government is formed india budget 2025.
Budget 2025 date time
Live budget 2025—india budget 2025 is expected to be presented on February 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM IST. This follows the standard practice where the Finance Minister delivers the budget speech in Parliament at 11 AM on the first day of February each year.
budget speech time is expected to begin at 11:00 AM IST on February 1, 2025. The Finance Minister usually starts the speech at 11 AM, and it typically lasts 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the announcements. The longest budget speech in India’s history was 2 hours and 42 minutes, delivered by Nirmala Sitharaman in 2020.
Budget news Read real-time updates here:
Watch as Union Budget 2025–2026 is presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- 12:04 on February 1, 2025
Putting Money Into Innovation
Ms. Sitharaman declares a ₹20,000 crore budget for initiatives to support “Investing in Innovation.” In an effort to stimulate the next generation of businesses, a DeepTech Fund of Funds will also be investigated.
10,000 scholarships with increased funding would be made available for technical study at IISC and IITs. To provide the fundamental geospatial data and infrastructure, a national geospatial mission will be established.
One crore manuscripts will be covered by the Gyan-Bharatam Mission for the Survey, Documentation, and Conservation of Manuscripts.
- 12:00 on February 1, 2025
Tourism as a driver of job creation: Sitharaman
States will compete to establish the top 50 tourist destinations. The infrastructure harmonized list will include hotels that are part of this plan.Intensive skill development programs will be organized at hotel management colleges as one of the steps done to support employment-led growth. Offering homestays Mudra Loans, granting States PLIs for efficient destination management, which will include marketing initiatives, tourism amenities, and e-visa capabilities for certain travelers.
Heal and medical tourism Together with capacity building and streamlined visa requirements, it would be pushed in India in collaboration with the commercial sector.
- 11:56 on February 1, 2025
Reforms in the mining sector in 2025
In her Budget address, Ms. Sitharaman states that the establishment of a State Mining Index and the exchange of best practices will promote changes in the mining industry, especially those pertaining to minor minerals. Critical minerals will be recovered from tailings as part of a new policy.
- 11:55 on February 1, 2025
Launch of the updated UDAAN regional connectivity plan
Ms. Sitharaman claims that 1.5 crore middle-class individuals have been able to realize their dreams of faster travel thanks to the UDAAN regional connectivity plan.
In order to convey 4 crore people over the next ten years and improve regional connections to 120 additional locations, a modified Udaan system would be introduced. Smaller airports and helipads in mountainous and aspirational districts would also be supported under the plan.
Bihar will build greenfield airports to accommodate the state’s future demands. These will be in addition to Patna Airport’s expansion.
Many farmers in Bihar would profit from the financial help provided for the Western Kosi canal project in Mithilanchal.
- 11:53 on February 1, 2025
Redesigning the shipbuilding financial aid strategy
at order to solve cost disadvantages, the ship construction financial aid policy will be revised. Credit notes for ship-breaking at Indian yards will also be included in order to support the circular economy.
A marine Development Fund with a capital of ₹25,000 crore would be established for the long-term financing of the marine sector. The government will contribute up to 49% of this, with ports and the private sector providing the remaining portion.
- 11:52 on February 1, 2025
The Mission of Nuclear Energy
Our energy transition plans depend on the development of at least 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047, Ms. Sitharaman stated.
The Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be amended to allow the private sector to actively participate in this field.
With a ₹20,00 crore investment, a Nuclear Energy Mission would be established to research and develop tiny, modular reactors. By 2033, at least five small modular reactors that were created domestically will be operating.
- 11:49 on February 1, 2025
Reforms in the power industry
Speaking on power sector changes, Ms. Sitharaman stated that we will provide incentives for states to overhaul their electrical distribution systems. “States will be permitted to borrow an additional 0.5% of GSDP, subject to these reforms.”
- 11:49 on February 1, 2025
Reforms in the urban sector
Building on the July Budget plans, Ms. Sitharaman states in her Budget address that an Urban Challenge Fund of ₹1 lakh crore will be used to implement recommendations for water and sanitation projects, as well as for innovative rehabilitation of cities and cities as hubs of growth.
With the requirement that at least 50% of the money be obtained through bonds, bank loans, and PPPs, this fund will finance up to 25% of the cost of bankable projects. The projected allocation is ₹10,000 crores.
- 11:47 on February 1, 2025
Mission of Jal Jeevan
Speaking about the Jal Jeevan Mission, Ms. Sitharaman said that since 2019, 15 crore homes have benefitted from access to drinkable tap water.
She said the expenditures will be increased to reach 100% coverage in rural India by 2028, up from the present 80% coverage rate.
- 11:45 on February 1, 2025
Putting Money Into the Economy
Ms. Sitharaman adds that each infrastructure ministry would prepare a three-year pipeline of projects to be constructed in PPP mode as part of the government’s efforts to “Invest in the Economy.”
It is suggested that states invest ₹1.5 lakh crore on infrastructure using interest-free loans with a 50-year term.
For 2025–2030, the second asset monetization strategy is for investing ₹10 lakh crore in new projects.
- 11:43 on February 1, 2025
Boosting urban livelihoods; gig workers’ ID cards
A plan for the socioeconomic development of urban workers will be introduced in order to support the urban poor and vulnerable populations.
More than 68 lakh street vendors have benefited from PM SVANidhi, which will be redesigned with improved loans, credit cards connected to UPI, and assistance for capacity building.
According to Ms. Sitharaman, gig workers and online platform workers provide a lot of energy to the modern services sector. The government would also offer them with health insurance and ID cards when they register on the E-shram site. One crore gig workers will gain from this.
- The Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Education was announced on February 1, 2025, at 11:40.
Investment as the third engine: According to Ms. Sitharaman, investment is the third engine and includes investments in the economy, people, and innovation.
Putting People First: Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 offer nutritional assistance to more than 8 million children, 1 crore expectant moms, and 20 lakh teenage females. The plan will improve the cost standards.
Over the following five years, 50,000 Atal Tinkering laboratories will be established in government schools.
All government secondary schools and elementary centers in rural regions must have access to broadband.
For Indian language textbooks used in schools and higher institutions, a Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak program would be put into place.
Building on previous announcements, five national centers of excellence for skilling will be established with collaborations and expertise from around the world.
The capacity of IITs will be increased. at the last ten years, the total number of students enrolled at 23 IITs has grown by 100%, from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh. The five IITs that were founded after 2014 would each get more infrastructure, and IIT Patna will also get more space.
- 11:29 on February 1, 2025, MSMEs as the second engine: Sitharaman
The second engine, which includes manufacturing and services, is MSMEs, of which there are 5.7 crore.
India is now positioned as a global manufacturing powerhouse thanks to the efforts of more than 1 crore registered MSMES, which account for 36% of our production, according to Ms. Sitharaman.
“45% of our exports are the result of these MSMEs. The investment and turnover limits for all MSMEs will be increased to 2.5 and 2 times, respectively, to aid in their attainment of greater economies of scale, technical advancement, and improved access to financing.
The credit guarantee coverage will be expanded to include startups in order to increase loan availability.
Alternative investment funds, including the Fund of Funds for Startups, have committed around 91,000 crore rupees. Now, a new Fund of Funds will be established with a broader scope and a new commitment of ₹10,000 crore. For 5 lakh women who are first-time business owners from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a new program will be introduced.
- 11:23 on February 1, 2025
The initial engine was agriculture: Sitharaman’s agricultural recommendations:
One hundred districts would be covered by the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, a program for improving agri-districts.
There will be a nationwide drive to find high-yielding seeds.
In collaboration with the States, a comprehensive program for fruits and vegetables will also be introduced.
In Bihar, a Makhana Board will be established.
India is the world’s second-largest producer of fisheries products. “In India’s economic zone, our government will provide an enabling framework for the sustainable exploitation of fisheries.”
Cotton farming will significantly improve thanks to the Mission for Cotton Productivity.
7.7 crore farmers, fishers, and dairy producers can get short-term loans using Kisan credit cards. The ₹3 lakh loan ceiling will be increased to ₹5 lakh.
A factory having an annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tons would be established in Assam for Atmanirbharta’s urea manufacturing.
Together with the India Posts Payment Bank, India Post will reposition its 1.5 lakh rural post offices to serve as a boost to the rural economy. In order to satisfy growing demands, India Post will also change into a sizable public sector logistics company.
- 10:58 on February 1, 2025
Watch as Union Budget 2025–2026 is presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- 10:45 on February 1, 2025
There aren’t many significant announcements we anticipate from the budget: Ramesh Jairam
“We don’t have much expectations from the budget that some big announcements will be made and that will encourage private investment,” Congressman Jairam Ramesh said in a response before to the budget presentation.
#WATCH | #UnionBudget2025 | Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, “Budget has an intent, content – it both make the extent of the budget. We don’t have much expectations from the budget that some big announcements will be made and that will encourage private investment… Let’s see if… pic.twitter.com/Yo0etIzTCM
— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2025
- 10:33 on February 1, 2025
The budget plan is approved by the Union Cabinet.
The Union Budget 2025-26 plan was agreed by the Union Cabinet during a meeting in Parliament prior to the budget presentation. At 11 a.m., Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will now submit the paper.
- 10:26 on February 1, 2025
Before the budget is presented, the Union Cabinet meets in Parliament.
- 10:06 on February 1, 2025
Before the budget is presented, the Union Finance Minister is spotted outside Parliament.
VIDEO | Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) poses with the tablet containing Budget documents in the Parliament premises.
She is scheduled to table the Union Budget at 11 am. #BudgetSessionWithPTI #Budget2025WithPTI pic.twitter.com/18k2jQz2Lg
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 1, 2025
- 09:59 on February 1, 2025
Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, arrives at Parliament#WATCH | #UnionBudget2025 | Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at the Parliament, after meeting President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She will present Union Budget at the House, shortly. pic.twitter.com/AHO3oBLM8l
— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2025
- 09:43 on February 1, 2025
Prior to presenting the budget, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman talks with President Murmu.VIDEO | Union Budget 2025: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) calls on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of presenting the Budget.#BudgetSessionWithPTI #Budget2025WithPTI
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/K3smDFFHHu
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 1, 2025
- 09:25 Sensex rises in opening trading on February 1, 2025
Before the budget is presented, the Sensex jumps 136.44 points to 77,637.01 in opening trading, while the Nifty is up 20.2 points to 23,528.60. - Budget content arrive to Parliament before the budget announcement on February 1, 2025, at 09:19.
VIDEO | Union Budget 2025: Budget documents arrive at Parliament ahead of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s (@nsitharaman) Budget presentation.#BudgetSessionWithPTI #Budget2025WithPTI
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/S3Y9duCRkm
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 1, 2025
