Parliament news updates: FM Sitharaman details out budget in LS, says 'Rs 25.44 lakh crore to be transferred to states in 2026-27'

"Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) is declining in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal. Communist states have not done anything to attract investments from industry," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

"We are incentivising data centers so that data remains in India and our youth gets jobs," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

"Gross tax receipts in the Budget Estimates are projected at Rs 44.04 lakh crore, around 8% higher than the Revised Estimates for 2025–26, marking an increase of Rs 3.26 lakh crore...The total expenditure for 2026–27 is estimated at Rs 53.47 lakh crore, while capital expenditure is pegged at Rs 12.22 lakh crore — 3.1% of GDP and 11.5% higher than the Revised Estimates for 2025–26," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

"Five regional medical hubs will be set up to promote medical tourism in the country," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

"Several announcements provide states with the opportunity to grow in various sectors. The budget also aims to equip youth with the skills needed to enter these sectors," she adds.

On claims that a few states have not been allocated funds in the Budget, Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman said the report of the 16th Financial Commission mentioned that in 2018-19, and from 2020 to 2023, the recommendations of the constitutional body have been met.

"16th Finance Commission analysed the state's share transferred by the Centre to the states from 2018-19 to 2022-23, and concluded that in each of these years, the devolution made by the Centre exactly matches the recommendation of the Finance Commission. So, we are not the only ones claiming this. The Finance Commission itself, after studying this in detail, has stated in its report that the money which has to go from the Centre to the states, taking the years 2018–19 to 2022–23 as examples and examining them, has clearly said that whatever amount has to go from the Central Government to the State Governments has been given. There is no scope for any doubt in this for the states," she said.

"200 legacy clusters, which have been known for decades as those places which supported MSME and they produce and export - it can be Ludhiana, Jalandhar or Kanpur or centres near Bihar, it can be anywhere in Bengal, we have volunteered that it can be funded, upgraded and given the modern instruments," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

"The debt-to-GDP is not a new target. Along with the fiscal deficit, debt-to-GDP is already included as a target in the 2018 amendment of the FRBM Act. This is mentioned under section 4(1) b of the FRBM Act," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

States can't have it both ways. The states should check if the entire net proceeds, which form the divisible pool, i.e., removing cess and surcharge from gross tax revenue, are received by them. There is no need to discuss the gross tax revenue. The center implements cess, a surcharge which is in accordance with the constitution. Cess is collected for a specific purpose," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

"The government had expanded the definition of MSMEs in the previous Budget to ensure firms do not lose benefits after crossing a certain turnover threshold... In the current Budget, further measures have been announced to support medium-sized industries with export potential and help them emerge as sectoral champions," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

"The resources transferred to the states, often we are accused of not really transferring the 41% which the Finance Commission has recommended, that the Government of India should give 41% of devolvable tax to the states. I will assure this House, through you Madam, 41% it is that we have transferred to the states. We have not reduced any state's transfer of devolvable tax which has to go. Total resources to be transferred to the states, including the devolution of states' share in taxes and releases that are made under the centrally sponsored scheme in 26–27, the coming year, is estimated to be at Rs 25.44 lakh crores. This much money will go to the states this year, next year. This entails an increase of 2.70 lakh crores..." says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day. Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha will resume at 11 am on Thursday (February 12).

"We have said that instead of waiting to qualify and finishing your education and coming out and seeking where should they go for acquiring skills, the skilling element can be brought into education itself and at the end of the day when they come out, students can say I can become entrepreneur and this kind of a mega centre can be kept next to any industrial cluster that any state has. So, these mega entrepreneurship building centres as education hubs can also come up in any state. We are willing to work with states so that this mammoth higher education centre can be propped up and therefore students can go there and come out as entrepreneurs...," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

“Any state can aspire -- by going through the PM Gati Shakti filters -- if they have a viable proposition. Any state can request the establishment of Allied and Health Services hubs where we intend to set up medical centers. States can seek to be part of this initiative, under which all aspects of medical education and hospitals for patient treatment can be concentrated in one area. So any state can qualify. This is a major, forward-looking proposition, given the medical tourism advantage that India possesses. It will become a centre for multi-purpose, multi-speciality Allied Health Services, through which we can further promote medical tourism,” says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

"Welcoming State governments to approach the Centre for aid in establishing mega foodparks, IT parks, smart cities, waterways etc.," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha.s

"Emphasis in the budget on labor-intensive sectors so that they can have more resources to improve, it's also looking at the legacy industries, which are waiting for rejuvenation, and have been funded," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha.

"This is the first budget of the second quarter of the 21st century. That is why it looks at some of the long-term investments that we are making today, which will have bearing in the long term," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is speaking in Lok Sabha after LoP Rahul Gandhi's charges on the budget, the India-US interim trade deal, and other issues.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be speaking in the Lok Sabha in response to Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's charges against the government over various issues, including the India-US interim trade framework.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will move a privilege motion against LoP Rahul Gandhi. The minister said the LoP should authenticate his charges and that he will get Gandhi's 'baseless' charges countered.

Rahul Gandhi told the Lok Sabha, "The Budget recognises that we are going into a danger time... intensifying geopolitical conflict. The Budget recognises energy and finance are being weaponised all across the world. Dollar is being weaponised, dollar is weakening in value, gold and silver price is going up. There is absolutely nothing in the Budget that looks into these issues." He criticized the government for overlooking key global economic and geopolitical risks in the Budget.

Rahul Gandhi spoke in Parliament on the protection of farmers, saying, "For first time in history our farmers are facing a storm; you've opened door to crush poor farmers, no PM has ever done this." He highlighted the unprecedented challenges faced by farmers under current policies.

During the Budget session, Kiren Rijiju interrupted Rahul Gandhi, saying the Leader of Opposition is speaking without "backing facts." He urged Rahul to "bring up something substantive" in his address.

Rahul Gandhi accused the government of opening doors “for us to crush farmers” during his Lok Sabha speech. He criticised the India-US trade deal, saying the US is “telling India not to buy Russian oil” and keeping 18 per cent tariffs while India brings tariffs down to zero.

"If INDIA bloc was negotiating with President Trump. We would say, President Trump the most important thing in this equation is Indian data," he said.

"Our textile sector is finished," he said, referring to still remaining 18 per cent tariffs and the import commitments from India to US.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticised the Union Budget’s tax holiday for foreign cloud firms, taking a swipe at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during his Lok Sabha speech. He said FM Sitharaman “likes to smile but …”, as he questioned the government’s policy priorities and its impact on domestic players.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was mistaken in claiming that the “era of war is over.” Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the Leader of Opposition argued that the world remains deeply unstable, citing ongoing global conflicts and rising geopolitical tensions as evidence that the era of war is far from over.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said, "trade deal is looking small, Trump needs to protect its farmer we need to protect our" during his address in the Lok Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi said, "Talking about AI is like talking about the internal combustion engine without talking petrol, petrol for AI is data."

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said India is moving into a “turbulent, dangerous world” driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence. He added that the country’s biggest strength is its “largest data pool on the planet” because of its 1.4 billion people, which he said could give India a strategic advantage in the AI era.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi referred to the current global situation as a “dangerous world” and stressed the need to recognise India’s strengths.

"When you move into a dangerous world what is the first thing you have to understand? I'd like to tell the house our strengths. The central strength is our 1.4 billion people; brilliant, energetic, dynamic who can challenge anybody in the world," he said.

"We're moving from a world of stability to a world of instability," he said.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday addressed the Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Union Budget, outlining his party’s position and raising key concerns over the government’s fiscal priorities. He criticised aspects of the Budget while urging greater focus on jobs, inflation and social welfare.

The Opposition on Tuesday submitted a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Sources in the Lok Sabha Secretariat said the motion is likely to be discussed on March 9, the opening day of the second phase of the Budget Session.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has decided not to attend House proceedings on moral grounds until the no-confidence motion notice against him is addressed, sources said. He has asked the Secretary-General of the House to examine the notice and take appropriate action.

The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday issued new rules requiring the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ to be played before the national anthem at all government functions and in schools, with mandatory standing. The directive also calls for all six stanzas to be played at official events, a move likely to reignite political debate.