From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: “First budget of Amrit Kal.” This is how Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described her fifth Union Budget in her opening remarks in the Lok Sabha.
She presented a populist budget to help the Modi government sweep third term in 2024, including free foodgrains to the poor for another one year of 2023, and help India become more self-dependent — Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The finance minister also announced agriculture credit of Rs 20 lakh crore and an agriculture accelator fund to be set up to encourage the agri-startups. It will attempt to implement the cost-effective solutions to problems encounter by the farmers by introducing cintemporary technology to boost outputs. She also provided 79,000 crore for the PM Awas Yojana, increasing capital expenditure by 33%.She also announced Rs 19,700 crore for promotion of green mission in all fields.
She also announced recruitment of 38,800 teachers and support staff in the next three years in 740 Eklavya Model residential schools. She gave a capital outlay of Rs 2.4 lakh crore for the Indian Railways.
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