Soon after the presentation of the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, 1 February, PM Narendra Modi in a video statement said, it contains a vision of self-reliance as well as inclusiveness.
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Calling it a proactive Budget that provides a boost to wealth and wellness, Modi went on to say, "The Budget focuses on increasing farmers' income, several measures have been taken in this direction. Farmers will be able to get loans easily. Provisions have been made to strengthen APMC markets with the help of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund."
In a series of tweets on Monday evening, Modi added that the Budget is for farmers and agriculture sector. “It will contribute to the doubling of incomes of our hardworking Annadatas and invigorate the sector with futuristic technologies,” he wrote on the social media platform.
Saying that Aatmanirbhar Bharat Ka (self-reliant India’s) Budget is one ‘of opportunities’, furthering ‘ease of living’, he said that it will bring “many positive changes for individuals, investors, industry and infrastructure.”
Modi also expressed that it reflects the aspirations of southern states, Northeast, and Ladakh. “The push towards better coastal infrastructure will be beneficial for the empowerment of coastal areas and fishermen communities,” he added in another tweet.
FM Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, proposed an exemption from filing income tax returns for senior citizens aged 75 years and above, who only have pension and interest income. The income tax slab for the financial year 2021-22 will remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, the fiscal deficit for the FY21 has been pegged at 9.5 percent of the GDP, while for FY22, it has been estimated at 6.8 percent, the finance minister said.it
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