MODI-SITHA ‘SHECONOMY’!

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday presented Union Budget 2024 in Parliament. The Interim Budget for 2024 was presented in the Parliament, marking Sitharaman’s sixth consecutive Budget presentation. Sitharaman announced that there would be no change in tax rates for direct and indirect taxes, including import duties. Meanwhile, the fiscal deficit for 2024-25 is estimated at 5.1% of GDP against 5.8% in the current financial year. With the Lok Sabha polls right around the corner, Sitharaman kicked off her Budget speech by highlighting the economic triumphs of the Modi government over the last decade. The interim Budget also expanded the scope of several social welfare schemes for the benefit of four groups that Sitharaman said were the “highest priority” of the government — the poor, women, youth and farmers.