FM Nirmala Sitharaman To Present Union Budget For 8th Time Today; Here's All You Need To Know

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to present union budget for the 8th time on Saturday. The Union Budget 2025-26 arrives at a time when India's economy is experiencing a slowdown. It is anticipated that the budget will include measures such as income tax relief for the middle class to stimulate consumption and drive economic growth.

Expectations are high for income tax relief, particularly for those earning up to Rs 15 lakh annually. The new tax regime might become more appealing with an increase in the standard deduction limit from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, the rebate under section 87A could be raised to Rs 10 lakh.

Record-Breaking Budget Presentation

Sitharaman will break her own record by presenting eight budgets consecutively. Previously, former Prime Minister Morarji Desai held the record for most budget presentations with ten budgets between 1959-64 and 1967-69. Other notable finance ministers include P Chidambaram with nine budgets and Pranab Mukherjee with eight.

The healthcare sector anticipates duty exemptions on cancer drugs and a focus on non-communicable diseases. Startups are also hopeful for policy support from the government to sustain their operations amidst challenging times.

How To Watch The Budget Speech

To catch Sitharaman's Budget Speech live, viewers can tune to OneIndia English's YouTube Channel and all the written updates will be available on the website.

Budget Date And Timing

The date for presenting the budget was shifted in 2017 to February 1st. This change allows the government to complete Parliamentary approval by March-end, enabling implementation from April 1st, marking the start of the fiscal year.

The upcoming budget presentation is set for February 1, 2025 starting at 11:00 am.