Budget 2024-25 top highlights

New Delhi- Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made many big announcements in her seventh financial budget presented in the Lok Sabha. The Finance Minister promised huge benefits to the youth ranging from providing them skills to development projects. At the same time, MSME i.e. small scale industries have also been given big relief in the case of loans up to Rs 100 crore, which is beneficiary for the middle class. The star factor to notice is the announcement of projects for both the states of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, which can prove to be an important for the basic infrastructure of both the states.

Let’s take a look at the top highlights of the Budget 2024- 25.

1. More than 100 branches of India Post Payments Bank will be set up in the northeastern states.

2. Government will prepare Purvodaya Yojana for the all-round development of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

3.The Central Government will bring a National Cooperation Policy for the overall development of the country. There will be a provision of Rs 2.66 lakh crore for rural development.

4.Financial assistance of Rs 15,000 crore will be given to Andhra Pradesh, assistance will be given to the state to correct the financial deficiencies that have occurred since the reorganization of the state.

5. The Central Government will provide e-voucher directly to one lakh students every year, in which interest subsidy of three percent of the loan amount will be given. The central government will start three employment related schemes.

6. On Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor we will support industrial development in Gaya, Bihar. This will accelerate the development of the eastern region.

7.An additional two-lane bridge will be built at a cost of Rs 26,000 crore on Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Highway, Bodh Gaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbhanga and river Ganga at Buxar.

8.One month’s salary will be given to all people coming for new work in all formal sectors. Will be registered in EPFO.

9.First-time employees will be paid one month’s salary in 3 installments up to Rs.15,000 under Direct Benefit Transfer.

10.The central government will provide funds to the private sector, experts and others to develop climate-friendly seeds. Will give incentives to 3 million youth entering the market by giving them one month’s PF contribution.

11.The central government will provide finance for shrimp rearing and marketing as the policy goal is to accelerate the rural economy and employment opportunities.

12.More FPOs will be formed for vegetable production and supply chain, emphasis will be laid on digitalizing records of agricultural land and farmers.

13.Under the Pradhan Mantri Internship Scheme, a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 will be available, under this, a target has been set to provide internships to the students.

14.Center will provide financial support for flood control activities in Assam, a special scheme has been made keeping in mind Kosi river to control floods in Bihar also.

15.Under PM Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0, one crore families will be given housing with an investment of Rs 10 lakh crore.

16.The central government will bring a scheme for interest subsidy for loans at affordable rates for the urban houses.

17.Three cancer medicines have been made custom duty free and custom duty of gold and silver has also been reduced.

18.Development of Vishnupad Temple Corridor and Mahabodhi Temple Corridor modelled on Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor

19.Comprehensive development initiative for Rajgir will be undertaken which holds religious significance for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.

20.The development of Nalanda as a tourist centre besides reviving Nalanda University to its glorious stature.

21.Assistance to development of Odisha’s scenic beauty, temples, monuments, craftsmanship, wildlife sanctuaries, natural landscapes and pristine beaches making it an ultimate tourism destination.