Category: Fiscal Policy

RBI’s Bimonthly Monetary Policy – Highlights and Key takeaways

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its 53rd meeting from February 5 to 7, 2025 under the chairmanship of Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, Reserve Bank of India. The MPC members Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Shri Saugata Bhattacharya, Prof. Ram Singh, Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, and Shri M. Rajeshwar Rao attended the meeting. The MPC revised the repo rate for the first time in two years, voting unanimously to cut it by 25 basis points from 6.50% to 6.25% in view of easing retail inflation and slowing growth. The rate cut comes even as the Rupee continues to reel to under pressure from global tariff wars. The MPC decided unanimously to reduce the policy repo rate to 6.25% at its meeting, The MPC also decided unanimously to continue with the ‘neutral’ stance and to remain unambiguously focused on a durable alignment of inflation with the target, while supporting growth.

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Union Budget 2025 – Key Highighlights – Top Announcements and Key Takeaways

Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025-26 in Parliament today. Finance Minister presented the Union Budget 2025-26 with the theme “Sabka Vikas” stimulating balanced growth of all regions. In line with this theme, the Finance Minister outlined the broad Principles of Viksit Bharat to encompass the following:
a) Zero-poverty;
b) Hundred per cent good quality school education;
c) Access to high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive healthcare;
d) Hundred per cent skilled labour with meaningful employment;
e) Seventy per cent women in economic activities; and
f) Farmers making our country the ‘food basket of the world’.

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Union Budget 2024 – Key Highlights, Key Takeaways and Its Impact

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman on July 23 announced her seventh consecutive budget. The presentation on July 23 was the first Budget by the BJP-led NDA government since it was re-elected in June.
Ms. Sitharaman said that the Budget will focus on employment, skilling, MSME and middle class. An allocation of ₹1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skill development was announced.. The Finance Minister laid down nine priorities of the Budget:
1. Productivity and resilience in agriculture
2. Employment and skilling
3. Inclusive Human resource development and social justice
4. Manufacturing and services
5. Support for promotion of MSMEs
6. Urban development
7. Energy security
8. Infrastructure
9. Innovation, research and development

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Interim Budget 2024 – Key Highlights and Impact on various sector

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the much-anticipated Interim Budget, outlining the government’s spending plans. Overall Focus of the Budget :
• Meeting the needs and aspirations of the poor, women, youth, and farmers
• Making India a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047
• Focusing on “sabka sath, sabka vikas” (inclusive development)
• Prioritising “GDP” – Governance, Development, and Performance
• All-round, all-pervasive, and all-inclusive approach to development

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Union Budget 2023-24 – Key Highlights, Budget Allocation & Impact on various Sectors

The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2023-24 in Parliament on 1st February 2023. The Budget has a vision for Amritkaal and has seven Priorities known as Saptrishi 7.

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Union Budget 2022-23 – Key Highlights and Impact on various sectors

FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget 2022 in Parliament. While keeping the Income Tax Slabs unchanged, FM announced a major change in taxation as far as virtual digital assets are concerned. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a 30 per cent tax on income from transactions in such assets. Furthermore, FM Also proposed Gati Shakti Programme which will boost infrastructure and create more jobs. On education sector, FM has announced launch of a new Digital University as well as expansion of PM eVIDYA with addition of new TV channels for supplementary education.

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Union Budget 2021- Budget at a glance, Key Takeaways & Highlights

The Union Budget 2021-22 was presented by the Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1st February 2021 in the Parliament. The Budget speech was given by the FM from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This year’s Budget lays focus on the seven pillars for reviving the economy – Health and Wellbeing, Physical and Financial Capital and Infrastructure, Inclusive Development for Aspirational India, Reinvigorating Human Capital, Innovation and R&D, and Minimum Government Maximum Governance. Several regulations around the securities market are proposed to be merged as a single code. Several direct taxes and indirect taxes amendments were also proposed.

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Highlights of RBI Governor Das’ comments in an interview to Cogencis

In an hour-long interview to Cogencis, Das said even though there is an animated discussion on the subject of the central bank monetising the government’s budget deficit amidst the ongoing fight against COVID-19 pandemic, he has not taken a view on the issue.

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Union Budget 2020 – Highlights, Key Takeaways, Detailed Analysis & Impact on various Sectors

The Union Budget has been structured on the overall theme of “Ease of Living.” The Finance Minister said that the Union Budget Aims: To achieve seamless delivery of services through Digital governance; To improve physical quality of life through National Infrastructure Pipeline; Risk mitigation through Disaster Resilience; Social security through Pension and Insurance penetration.
The budget is woven around three prominent themes:
Aspirational India in which all sections of the society seek better standards of living, with access to health, education and better jobs. Economic development for all, indicated in the Prime Minister’s exhortation of “SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas, SabkaVishwas”. Caring Society that is both humane and compassionate, where Antyodaya is an article of faith.

The three broad themes are held together by

Corruption free – policy-driven good governance
Clean and sound financial sector.

The three components of Aspirational India are- a) Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development , b) Wellness, Water and Sanitation and c) Education and Skills

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State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2019-20

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the report titled “State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2019-20”, an annual publication that provides information, analysis and an assessment of the finances of state governments. With several states facing state elections this summer, presentation of their final budgets was delayed till July-September 2019. This year’s Report analyses the underlying dynamics of budget estimates (BE) for 2019-20 against the backdrop of actual for 2017-18 and revised (and provisional accounts) outcomes for 2018-19. The Report addresses the theme of “Debt: States’ Medium Term Fiscal Challenges”. A time-series data published in State Finance Reports from 1990-91 is also released along with this Report.

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