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Saturday, January 3, 2026
TopicBudget 2024

Topic: Budget 2024

Big ideas for Budget D-Day—jobs, skills and innovation should be the focal point

In her interim Budget speech in February, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had mentioned the need for industry-academia collaboration. This time, the Budget could give the initiative a bigger push.

Budget 2024 shouldn’t be evaluated on tax cuts. Avoiding policy flaws is more important

The demand for converting multiple GST rates into a three-rate system has merit. But the Union Budget is not where such announcements can be expected.

Budget is Nirmala Sitharaman’s first order of business—reduce deficit or create employment?

The finance ministry could remove the GST compensation cess or subsume a part of it in the revised rates for such products. It would reduce overall GST incidence and boost demand.

Mann govt presents Rs 2 lakh cr-plus Punjab budget, outstanding debt likely to touch Rs 3.74 lakh cr

While Rs 13,784 crore is earmarked for agriculture, education sector gets ₹16,987 crore in 2024 budget. Another Rs 7,780 crore allocated for providing free power to households.

With Rs 86,000-cr for FY25, MNREGS budget sees no change from 2023-24 revised estimate as polls loom

FY25 allocation is exactly the same outlay as given in revised estimates for the current financial year. Activists say it's not sufficient to meet demand for work in rural areas.

Interim Budget 2024 ditched populism. Modi govt didn’t give in to election temptation

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Interim Budget 2024 speech makes it clear that the Modi government is confident of being voted back to power. This augurs well for the economy and people of India.

Focus on green energy & EVs — how interim budget 2024 takes strides towards govt’s net-zero target

For the EV sector, the government announced increased support for manufacturing and charging infrastructure, as well as a push for the adoption of e-buses in public transport.

Aid to Maldives in Interim Budget higher than last yr’s allocation, but 22% lower than what was spent

Development assistance to India's other neighbours like Seychelles, Mongolia & Iran's Chabahar Port remain roughly the same year-on-year. Nepal, Afghanistan, Africa get slightly more.

Eye on polls, govt unveils housing scheme for middle class & 2 cr more PMAY-Gramin houses in Budget

According to the Interim Budget, extra 2 crore houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna-Gramin will be made in 5 yrs. Plan to launch a special housing scheme was announced by Modi last yr

On Camera

India’s urban co-op banks are turning the page—crisis to cautious revival, one metric at a time

With bad loans shrinking & capital buffers stronger, urban co-op banks’ new umbrella body NUCFDC is now prioritising rollout of digital transformation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.