Pre-Budget Talks for Union Budget 2024-25 Led by Nirmala Sitharaman
The Finance Ministry, under the leadership of Nirmala Sitharaman, has wrapped up the Pre-Budget consultations for the Union Budget 2024-25. These discussions, which began on June 19, 2024, saw participation from over 120 invitees representing various sectors.
Key Participants
Experts and representatives from farmer associations, trade unions, education and health sectors, MSMEs, trade and services, industry, economists, financial sector, and infrastructure were present. The Finance Ministers of the states also joined the discussions.
Main Issues Discussed
During the meetings, several critical issues were highlighted:
- Boosting capital expenditure
- Reducing the fiscal deficit
- Generating employment growth
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) suggested increasing capital expenditure, while farmer associations called for enhanced budgetary allocation for agriculture. Trade and services representatives emphasized the need for better export policies and ease of doing business.
Government Response
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed her gratitude for the valuable suggestions and assured that they would be considered in the preparation of the Union Budget 2024-25.
