Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday presented the Union Budget 2025 in Parliament. The budget promises to continue Government’s efforts to accelerate growth, secure inclusive development, invigorate private sector investments, uplift household sentiments, and enhance spending power of India’s rising middle class. It proposes development measures focusing on poor (Garib), Youth, farmer (Annadata) and women (Nari). The Budget aims to initiate transformative reforms in taxation, power sector, urban development, mining, financial sector, and regulatory reforms to augment India’s growth potential and global competitiveness.

Major Announcements By FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Along with several key announcements, there was relief for the middle class, with no Income tax up to Rs 12.75 lakh per annum in the new tax regime. Here’s a look at the 10 announcements from Budget 2025 that directly impact the common man.

1. ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ has been announced to cover 100 low agricultural productivity districts. This will benefit 1.7 crore farmers.
2. ‘Mission For Aatmanirbharta In Pulses’ will be launched with special focus on Tur, Urad and Masoor. This mission will benefit pulse growing farmers.
3. Launch of a new scheme for 5 lakh women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes first-time entrepreneurs has been announced. This will provide term loans up to Rs. 2 crore during the next 5 years.
4. A national manufacturing mission covering small, medium and large industries for furthering ‘Make In India’ will be started. This will benefit individuals engaged in MSMEs.
5. Centre Of Excellence In Artificial Intelligence For Education, with a total outlay of Rs 500 Crore will transform educational sector.
6. PM SVANIDHI with enhanced loans from Banks, and UPI linked Credit Cards with Rs 30,000 Limit will benefit individuals.
7. Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme will be implemented to provide digital-form Indian language books for school and higher education. This will benefit students and parents.
8. Gig workers to get identity cards, registration on e-shram Portal and  healthcare under PM Jan Arogya Yojana.
9. Rs 15,000 crore SWAMIH fund to be established for expeditious completion of another 1 lakh stressed housing units. This will benefit homebuyers.
10. Basic Custom Duty (BCD) has been exempted on 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines for treating cancer, rare and chronic diseases. This will benefit the patients undergoing treatment and the family.