Budget 2024: Highlights of budget speech of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi: Following are the highlights of the speech of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha while presenting the interim budget here on Thursday:

• Indian economy has witnessed positive transformation in the last 10 years.
• 80 crore people are getting free ration.
• Government has assisted 25 crore people to get freedom from multidimensional poverty.
• Crop insurance has been given to 4 crore farmers under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana.
• Every year, under PM Kisan Samman Yojana, direct financial assistance is being provided to 11.8 crore farmers.
• In the last 10 years, all forms of infrastructure -- physical , digital and social are being built in record time.
• All parts of country are becoming active participant in growth.
• GST has enabled one nation, one, tax and one market.
• Proactive inflation management has kept inflation within the policy band.
• Next five years will be years of unprecedented development and golden moments to realise the dream of developed India by 2047.
• Government is working towards development which is all round, all inclusive and all pervasive.
• Through rooftop solarisation, 1 crore households will be enabled to obtain upto 300 units free electricity every month.
• Government will launch a scheme to help deserving sections of Middle Class to buy or build their own houses.
• Govt to encourage cervical cancer vaccination for girls.
• Efforts to boost value addition in agriculture and increase farmers' income will be stepped up.
• Capex Outlay for 2024-25 is being increased by 11.1% to Rs 11,11,111 crore.
• Three major railway corridor programmes will be implemented.
• 40,000 normal train bogies will be converted to Vande Bharat standards.
• No change in rates either for direct or indirect taxes.