📜#highlights BUDGET 2025🧮📑 The Union Budget 2025,💰🏷 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2025, focused on several key areas to stimulate economic growth and welfare: Highlights: Income Tax Relief: No income tax is applicable up to an income of ₹12 lakh, providing significant relief to the middle class, aiming to increase disposable income and consumption. New Tax Regime: Proposals include introducing a new Income Tax Bill with fewer and simpler tax slabs, potentially halving the complexity of the current tax law. Agriculture and Rural Development: The budget announced the PM-Kisan Yojana to benefit 1.7 crore farmers, emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices and the creation of a Makhana Board in Bihar for enhanced production and marketing. Healthcare: Plans for 10,000 new medical seats over the next year and a commitment to 75,000 in the next five years, alongside the establishment of day-care cancer centers in every district. Innovation and Startups: ₹20,000 crore has been allocated to foster innovation in partnership with the private sector, with additional support for MSMEs and startups through a ₹10,000 crore fund. Infrastructure: Capital expenditure has been slightly increased, focusing on connectivity, with the UDAN scheme extended to cover 120 new destinations for regional connectivity. Fiscal Discipline: The fiscal deficit target has been set at 4.4% of GDP, indicating efforts towards fiscal consolidation. Inferences: The budget shows a clear intent to bolster domestic consumption through significant tax relief, which could lead to increased spending power among the middle class. There's a strong emphasis on self-reliance in agriculture, aiming to not only increase productivity but also to ensure sustainable practices, aligning with global environmental goals. The healthcare announcements reflect an understanding of the need for widespread medical access, particularly in specialized care like cancer treatment, which could have long-term benefits on public health. The substantial allocation towards innovation suggests a strategic push towards making India a hub for technology and entrepreneurship, which might attract more foreign direct investment in this sector. The fiscal discipline reflected in deficit targets indicates a cautious approach to economic management, balancing growth with debt management, which is crucial in a post-pandemic recovery scenario. Overall, the budget seems designed to promote inclusive growth, encourage investment in key sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and innovation, while also ensuring that the fiscal health of the nation remains robust.