🏛️ Union Budget 2025–26: A Vision for Viksit Bharat
On February 1st, 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the Union Budget 2025–26 in Parliament, outlining a strategic blueprint to transform India into Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this budget reaffirms the government’s commitment to inclusive, balanced, and sustainable development across every sector.
Inspired by Telugu poet Gurajada Appa Rao’s sentiment — “A country is not just its soil; a country is its people” — this budget echoes the theme of “Sabka Vikas”, emphasizing citizen empowerment, modern infrastructure, and India’s global competitiveness.
🔧 Focus Areas of Budget 2025–26
The Union Budget 2025–26 builds upon four key engines of economic transformation:
- Agriculture & Rural Prosperity
- MSMEs & Manufacturing
- Investment in People, Economy & Innovation
- Exports and Global Competitiveness
With a capital expenditure allocation of ₹11.21 lakh crore (3.1% of GDP) and a fiscal deficit target of 4.4%, the government prioritizes:
- Farmer welfare via schemes like PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Aatmanirbharta in Pulses
- Startup and MSME support, including first-time entrepreneur schemes
- Investment in human capital — education, digital inclusion, and healthcare
- Encouragement of innovation through Deep Tech Funds and Gyan Bharatam
🌾 Top 5 Government Schemes in Budget 2025
1. PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana
A flagship initiative designed to enhance agricultural productivity in 100 underperforming districts, benefiting over 1.7 crore farmers.
Key Focus:
- Promoting crop diversification
- Modernizing irrigation and storage
- Facilitating farm credit and modern agri-tech
Impact: Improves food security and strengthens farmer livelihoods.
2. Rural Prosperity & Resilience Programme
A holistic rural development strategy focusing on employment, infrastructure, and women empowerment.
Key Benefits:
- Skilling and entrepreneurship support
- Reduces rural-to-urban migration by boosting local opportunities
3. National Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses
A 6-year mission to boost domestic production of tur, urad, and masoor through climate-smart agriculture.
Features:
- MSP guarantees
- Collaboration with agencies like NAFED
- Improved seed technology
4. Scheme for First-Time Entrepreneurs
Provides term loans up to ₹2 crore to empower 5 lakh women, SC/ST entrepreneurs over five years.
Support Includes:
- Access to credit, training, and business networks
- Encourages inclusive, grassroots entrepreneurship
5. Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0
This revamped nutrition and child development initiative supports:
- 8 crore children
- 1 crore pregnant/lactating women
- 20 lakh adolescent girls
Key Goals:
- Early childhood care and nutrition
- Health interventions in aspirational districts
💰 Revised Income Tax Slabs in New Tax Regime
As part of simplifying the tax compliance process, Budget 2025 introduced a revised tax structure under the new income tax regime. This aims to relieve middle-class taxpayers and encourage voluntary tax compliance.
| Annual Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| ₹0 – ₹4 lakh | 0% (Nil) |
| ₹4 – ₹8 lakh | 5% |
| ₹8 – ₹12 lakh | 10% |
| ₹12 – ₹16 lakh | 15% |
| ₹16 – ₹20 lakh | 20% |
| ₹20 – ₹24 lakh | 25% |
| Above ₹24 lakh | 30% |