New Delhi, 01 February: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget in the Lok Sabha today (Wednesday) at 11 am. She said in the budget speech that the seven priorities in the budget are based on the concept of Saptarishi. These include inclusive growth, green growth, youth power, financial sector, last mile connectivity, infrastructure development and full utilization of capacities.
She said that a separate fund would be created to give impetus to the agriculture sector. There will be an emphasis on new technology. Domestic and global possibilities exist in tourism. For its promotion, work will be done in public-private partnership in mission mode. We have made significant progress towards several Sustainable Development Goals.
Nirmala Sitharaman said that the central government is bearing the entire expenditure of about two lakh crore rupees under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana to provide free food grains for one year to all Antyodaya and priority families. Towards inclusive development, 11.4 crore toilets have been built. 220 crore Covid vaccines were administered. 47.8 crore bank accounts were opened under Jan Dhan Yojana. Direct benefit transfers of Rs 2.2 lakh crore have been made.
She said that the efforts of the government since 2014 have ensured better quality of life and dignified living to all citizens. The per capita income has more than doubled to Rs 1.97 lakh. In these nine years, the Indian economy has grown as the fifth largest economy in the world. The world has recognized India as a bright star. Our growth for the current year is estimated at 7.0 per cent. This is the highest among all major economies despite the massive global recession caused by the pandemic and the war. Indian economy is on the right track and moving towards a bright future. The scope of organized sector in the economy has increased.
Indian Railways has received a capital outlay of Rs 2.40 lakh crore in the General Budget 2023-24. union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made this announcement while presenting the General Budget 2023-24 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The union Finance Minister in his budget speech said that the Indian economy is on the right track, moving towards a bright future. The growth rate of our economy is estimated to be 7 percent in the current financial year.
It is noteworthy that this is the highest ever capital outlay for the Railways. This is nine times the outlay provided to the Railways in 2013-14.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech announced that Millets Institute will be set up in the country soon. This institute will work on the possibilities of increasing the production of coarse cereals for the farmers.
Presenting the general budget, the Finance Minister said on Wednesday that the Millets Institute would provide all possible help to the farmers along with motivating them to cultivate coarse grains.
Nirmala Sitharaman further said that India is the largest producer of coarse cereals in the world. We are the second largest exporter of coarse cereals in the world.
She further said that the United Nations General Assembly in its 75th session during March, 2021 declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM). Millet is a smart food with high nutritional value, which is climate-friendly and in line with many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The minister said that the government is making efforts to increase the production of millets like Kodo, Ragi, Bajra, Jowar, Saman, Kuttu, Ramdana etc. in India.
In the General Budget 2023-24, it has been announced to set up a National Digital Library for children and youth. A National Digital Library for Children and Adolescents will be set up to make high-quality literature more accessible, union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while presenting the Budget in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
She added that digital libraries will make it easier to access high-quality books across all levels, genres and languages, as well as across all locations and devices.
