FM Nirmala Sitharaman to presents Union Budget 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present Union Budget 2021-22 today. She is likely to use a tablet computer to deliver a paperless Budget address. This Budget assumes greater significance as it comes amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has led to massive economic disruption in India. As per Deloitte, the company’s budget recommendations are anchored around three themes: build a stronger foundation today, prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities, and grow beyond borders to make an impact in the long run.

This year Union Budget turns out to be an excellent budget but not a transformational budget as was made out to be. It has adopted a brilliant strategy of large scale infrastructure rollout, funded by asset monetization of existing road, power lines, gas pipelines and railway assets. The budget also covers funding of New Education Policy which is what we have been asking for as it will provide the human resources needed for growth in this decade. Adequate provisions have been made for health, education, agriculture, MSME's and startups. Hope there is removal of GST on digital payments and removal of Angel tax as a followup of the budget. Overall, the budget manages to put up a convincing package to fund the desired goals while providing revenue lines for the same.


Sitharaman proposes discoms assistance scheme with Rs 3 lakh crore outlay. She is use a 'made in India' tablet computer to deliver a paperless Budget address. Expectations are high that the government will boost economic revival by focussing on infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, rural economy, MSMEs sectors impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions.


Government will allot Rs 1.03 lakh crore for National Highway Projects in Tamil Nadu; Rs 65,000 core for National Highway Projects in Kerala; Rs 25,000 crore for National Highway Projects in West Bengal. We will also allot additional Rs 34,000 crore for National Highway Projects in Assam. We will award 8,500 km of for National Highway Projects by March 2022.

Further, 1,000-km of the National Highway Corridor is to be completed.

The Eastern Freight Corridor is to be taken up this year via PPP mode. Further, three future dedicated freight corridors -- East Coast, East-west, North-south are in works. These will have automatic system on high density rail routes to avoid collisions. Complete, 100% electrification of broad-gauge rail routes will be done by December 2023.


FM has announced a new vehicle scrapping policy that aims to provide the auto sector a boost. She has also announced the setting up of a Development Financial Institution. In the power sector, Sitharaman announced the government’s proposal to create a framework that will give consumers the choice to choose from more than one power distribution company.