Interim Budget 2024: Nirmala Sitharaman¡¯s Statements Drop Hints About What To Expect

Come February 1st, all eyes will be on India¡¯s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present the interim budget 2024. Despite it being an interim and not a full union budget this time, the upcoming budget presentation by FM Sitharaman is being keenly looked forward to by the entire nation. This is because the interim budget 2024 is the PM Modi-led BJP govt¡¯s last budget presentation before the Lok Sabha polls take place in April-May this year.

While it remains to be seen what the budget announcements turn out to be, FM Sitharaman has dropped some subtle hints through her recent statements, which can indicate what the nation should expect from the upcoming interim budget 2024.

Nirmala Sitharman Hints Towards What To Expect From Budget 2024

nirmala sitharaman budget 2024/pti

No Big-Bang Budget This Time?

A noteworthy remark made by FM Nirmala Sitharaman last month has lowered hopes for the upcoming budget. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-hosted Global Economic Policy forum, she said, ¡°I am not going to play a spoilsport, but it is a matter of truth that the February 1, 2024, budget that will be announced will just be a vote on account because we will be in an election mode. The budget that the government presents will just be to meet the expenditure of the government till a new government comes to play."

¡°No spectacular announcements come at that time (in a vote on account). So, you will have to wait till after the new government comes in and presents the next full budget in July 2024,¡± said Sitharaman.

Her claim cannot be used to disprove the general expectation that a pre-election interim budget will include targeted welfare measures, possibly including funding for programs for the less fortunate segments of the economy, particularly small farmers.

Also Read: Meet Nirmala Sitharaman's Team Behind Interim Budget 2024

Focus On India¡¯s Informal Sector?

union budget presentation fm/et

Last month, FM Sitharaman declared that the government would support the expansion of India's informal sector, which has long been the backbone of the country's economy, by providing the necessary policy push and credit availability, allowing the formal sector to pursue its own growth potential.

Something In Store For Youth, Women, Poor & Farmers?

Barely a week before the interim budget 2024, while pointing to PM Narendra Modi's recent statement, FM Sitharaman said: "...yuva (youth), women, those who give us food security, good farmers, and then the unfortunate poor, who still need some more support for them to get uplifted. So, (focus on) just these four groups, everything will be focused towards their betterment. Then you don't really get into this whole thing about, you know, which caste, which community, which religion... everybody is covered," she said at an event at Hindu College.

Also Read: Ahead of Budget 2024, Here's The Journey Of India's Finance Minister Sitharaman

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