Today, February 1, 2025, at 11 am, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2025 in the Lok Sabha. This marks her eighth consecutive Budget presentation in Parliament and her second full-fledged budget of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government formed in 2024, Modi 3.0.
The first part of the Budget session began on Friday, January 31, 2025, when FM Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2025 in Parliament.
The Indian stock market will remain open on February 1, 2025, despite being a Saturday. Leading stock exchanges BSE and NSE will observe regular trading activities on account of Union Budget 2025-26 today. “On account of the presentation of the Union Budget, Exchange shall be conducting a live trading session on February 1, 2025,” said the exchanges in an official circular. The Indian stock market is typically closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
The high-stakes Union Budget 2025 is finally here, to be unveiled at 11 am today (February 1, 2025) amid industry-wide expectations of capex growth and tax relief for the salaried class. From today’s budget, India Inc. widely anticipates the government’s measures on higher allocation towards boosting infrastructure, ease of doing business, and artificial intelligence (AI) models, among others.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
has left from her residence for North Block ahead of the Union Budget 2025 presentation in Parliament at 11 am today.
General Mills is optimistic about policy measures that could further enable the integration of technology and innovation into the agri-food industry, according to Ashish Mishra, Head of Digital & Technology at General Mills India Center (GCC).
Expectations from the Budget include:
- Simplified compliance frameworks for tech-enabled solutions.
- Increased budgetary allocations for R&D in agritech and foodtech.
- Establish incubation hubs and incentivize start-ups.
Industry body ASSOCHAM has praised the Economic Survey for building a strong case for further economic reforms, particularly at the grassroots levels to take India on a faster growth trajectory even as the global environment remains challenging.
According to Sanjay Nayar, President of ASSOCHAM, “While the 6.3-6.8 percent GDP growth projection for 2025-26 is realistic and there is a strong chance of reaching the higher end of the curve, the striking feature of the Economic Survey is the emphasis it lays on deregulation and reforms especially at the grassroots level and particularly for the MSMEs.”
The chamber added, “Upside prospects of investment, GDP growth, and drop in inflation are bright. However, we need to remain on a vigil, as cautioned by the Survey by the downside risks particularly those coming from the emerging global economic environment.”
According to Amit Sharma, MD & CEO of TATA Consulting Engineers (TCE), the Budget is a “key opportunity to advance India’s infrastructure, energy transition, and technological innovation.”
On infrastructure:
- We expect continued capital investment in water supply, metro systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure, along with support for Smart Cities, Transit-Oriented Development, and affordable housing.
On renewables:
- A stronger push for renewable energy, including offshore wind, green hydrogen, and small modular reactors (SMRs), coupled with grid expansion, viability gap funding, and single-window approvals, will accelerate the energy transition.
On skill development and R&D:
- Skill development, gender diversity in engineering, and incentives for public-private partnerships will help bridge workforce gaps.
While this will be Nirmala Sitharaman’s second full-fledged Budget announcement in Parliament under the Modi 3.0 government, overall, it is her eighth Union Budget announcement.
As finance minister, she has presented six annual and two interim budgets under the NDA government—the most for any incumbent in the position.
Indian stock market indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to remain volatile today, 1 February 2025, during the presentation of the Union Budget 2025-2026.
Stock and commodity exchanges, BSE, NSE, and MCX are conducting a special trading session today despite it being a Saturday, on account of Budget 2025. Key sectors such as defense, railways, infrastructure, and banks are likely to be in focus.
Historically, the Nifty 50 has exhibited intraday fluctuations within a 2-3 percent range on Budget Day, presenting both opportunities and risks for traders.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 (Saturday) will present a record eighth consecutive budget that is expected to contain measures to shore up weakening economic growth and ease the burden on the middle class struggling with high prices and stagnant wage growth while being fiscally prudent.
This will take Sitharaman closer to the record of 10 budgets that former Prime Minister Morarji Desai presented over different periods.
The Union Budget 2025 is just around the corner, and expectations are high! Will there be tax relief for individuals and businesses?
The tax-free income threshold should be increased to Rs 10 lakh, with a 10% rate for income up to Rs 20 lakh, a 20% rate for income up to Rs 30 lakh, and a 30% rate for incomes above Rs 30 lakh. The Section 80C deduction limit can be increased to Rs 5 lakh, and the standard deduction for salaried individuals can be based on a percentage of salary, say 10%
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