Budget LIVE: Rs 35,000 cr for net-zero carbon emission goals, says FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the last full Budget of the Modi government before general elections 2024 on February 1. Catch all latest updates on Union Budget 2023-24 here

9:55 PM

Union Minister Anurag Thakur praises the government for increasing sports budget

"There has been an 11% increase in the Sports budget which has now become a total of Rs 3,397 cores. Around Rs 1,000 crores will be spent only on 'Khelo India Games'," says Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

9:53 PM

This is just a ceremonial budget, says Himachal Pradesh CM SS Sukhu

"This is just a ceremonial budget. There should have been more schemes, there should have been schemes related to unemployment, MNREGA. If the government wanted, it would have given a special grant as Himachal Pradesh has a debt of 75,000 crores," says Himachal Pradesh CM SS Sukhu.

9:34 PM

'More money in the pockets, more spending!', says Sajjan Jindal, JSW Group Chairman on Union Budget

Sajjan Jindal, JSW Group Chairman on Union Budget said, "A 40 per cent increase in the income tax rebate limit from 5 lakhs to 7 Lakhs is a huge comfort that this budget has given to our middle-income group and is a great step to strengthen their finances. More money in the pockets, more spending! The scheme to support central & state govt and municipalities in replacing their old polluting vehicles is another master stroke. This will give a boost to the manufacturing sector which is largely driven by the auto industry & will bring more efficient machines onto the road. This govt has been giving a huge push to the infrastructure upgradation of our nation & an increase in spending on road & rail infrastructure is a testament to their philosophy. This will help maintain the momentum of our economic growth, contrary to the world scenario. Overall I believe it's a great budget and will complement India's growth story. We are the only bright spot in the world economy and this budget ensures that we continue to shine in the time to come!"

 

8:59 PM

"Increased capital investment with have social impact in rural areas," says Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

"The budget has some good aspects which need to be appreciated including increased capital investment, support for drinking water initiatives and increasing rural housing. These will accelerate growth as well as have a social impact in rural areas," Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Union Budget 2023-24.

8:37 PM

India is shining like a star, says Union Minister of Finance to DD News

"Even when there are global challenges, India is shining like a star and is the fastest growing economy in the world according to IMF report', says Union Minister of Finace in an interview with DD News. 

 

8:34 PM

Union Budget 2023: PAN to be used as common business identifier, says Centre on ease of business

The 10-digit Permanent Account N​umber, popularly known as PAN, will be used as a common business identifier, announced Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech in a big move for ease of doing business. PAN is allotted by the income tax department to a person, firm or entity. On the need for separate submission of same information to different government agencies, a system of 'Unified Filing Process' will be set-up, the Minister added.

 

"Such filing of information or return in simplified forms on a common portal will be shared with other agencies as per filer's choice," she said.

 

More than 39,000 compliances have been reduced and over 3,400 legal provisions decriminalised to enhancing ease of doing business, Nirmala Sitharaman said presenting her fifth consecutive budget.

8:29 PM

Give me half an hour and I will show you how to prepare a Budget for the poor: Mamata Banerjee on Budget 2023

"This Union Budget is not futuristic; [it’s] totally opportunistic, anti-people and anti-poor. It will benefit only one class of people. This Budget will not help address the country's unemployment issue. It has been prepared with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The changes in the income tax slabs will not help anyone. There is no ray of hope in this Budget – it is a dark Budget. Give me half an hour and I will show you how to prepare a Budget for the poor," said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Union Budget 2023-24.

 

 

 

 

 

8:27 PM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Union Budget 2023

“Earlier, Punjab was missing from the Republic Day. Now, Punjab is missing from the Budget. As a border state, we demanded Rs 1,000 crore for BSF’s upgradation, modernisation, anti-drone system, but nothing has been talked about [that] in the Budget," said Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

 

 

7:44 PM

Union Budget 2023: Key provisions towards environment

• Green Hydrogen Mission for reduced dependence on fossil fuel
• Rs 35,000 crore for energy transition to net-zero emission goals
• New "green credit" programme under Environment Protection Act

7:43 PM

Enhanced focus will be provided for scientific management of dry and wet waste: Nirmala Sitharaman

In a step towards eradicating manual scavenging in India finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Budget speech on Wednesday that all cities and towns will be enabled for 100 per cent mechanical desludging of septic tanks and sewers to transition from manhole to machine-hole mode. “Enhanced focus will be provided for scientific management of dry and wet waste,” she said. The budget allocation for Swachh Bharat Mission - urban has seen a jump of 150 per cent from revised estimate of Rs 2,000 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 5,000 crore in the next financial year.  

 

Government had told Lok Sabha in December 2022 that 188 persons died due to accidents while undertaking hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks between 2019 and 2022. Surveys conducted in the year 2013 and 2018 identified 58,098 eligible manual scavengers.