Finance Minister

Bharat stands at a pivotal economic moment. The rollout of GST 2.0 marks the boldest overhaul since its inception in 2017, replacing a multi-slab system with a simpler structure built to drive clarity, confidence, and growth. It promises direct savings for households, ease of doing business for enterprises, and renewed trust from global investors. The summit will bring together leading policymakers, industry heads, economists, tax and finance experts to decode this historic reform, deliberate its impact, and chart the path ahead. Through keynotes, power panels, and exclusive conversations, it will explore how GST 2.0 can transform industries, empower enterprises, and accelerate Bharat’s rise on the global stage

Nirmala Sitharaman LIVE: Finance Minister In An Exclusive Chat With News18 After GST Reforms

In a post-GST reforms special, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks exclusively to News18, breaking down the key impact of India’s GST evolution, its effect on small businesses, state revenues, and long-term economic growth.

GST 2.0: FM Sitharaman announces GST cuts ahead of festive season, what’s cheaper? Check deets

After the 56th GST Council meeting, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "We've reduced the slabs. There shall be only two slabs, and we are also addressing the issues of compensation cess." The minister further added "These reforms have been carried out with a focus on the common man. Every tax on the common man's daily use items has gone through a rigorous review and in most cases the rates have come down drastically... Labour intensive industries have been given a good support. Farmers and the agriculture sector, as well as the health sector, will benefit. Key drivers of the economy will be given prominence."

FM Sitharaman responds to viral bribery allegation in GST registration process

In a viral post, a company director claimed he would be 'compelled to commit a crime' by offering a bribe in order to obtain a GST registration number

New Income Tax Bill offers more clarity on computing capital gains tax: PwC

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 13 tabled the new Income Tax Bill in the Lok Sabha. The bill, which is headed for a select committee is expected to come into force from April 1, 2026.

Common ground between Centre, states still elusive on GST rationalisation agenda

While the Centre is keen on doing away with the 12% GST slab, states on the rate rationalisation panel have, so far, only moved items between the existing rates, government sources said.

New income tax bill likely to be tabled soon in Parliament. Will it introduce new taxes?

The Direct Tax Code was announced in the Budget 2025 by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1

Union Budget 2025: What’s Getting Cheaper & Costlier? | Key Customs Duty Changes

The FY25 Union Budget brings major changes in customs duties, impacting businesses and consumers. From cheaper medicines, EVs, and renewables to costlier electronics and textiles, here’s what’s changing. Watch now for a full breakdown!

Tax proposals in Budget to boost flows into stock markets, says NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget in parliament on February 1. Along with a slew of changes, she announced a rehaul of the existing tax slabs under the new tax regime, effectively hiking the tax rebate limit to Rs 12.75 lakh.

Health ministry's outlay up 10% to Rs 99,858.56 crore for FY26

Of the total, Rs 95,957.87 crore has been set aside for the department of health and family welfare and Rs 3,900.69 crore for health research department

FY26 food subsidy bill pegged at Rs 2.03 lakh crore, up 3%

The entire amount will be spent under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which was extended by five years in November 2023

Budget 2025 pegs FY26 fertiliser subsidy at Rs 1.68 lakh crore

The initial Budget estimate for fertiliser subsidy for FY25 was Rs 1.64 lakh crore after which the government added Rs 6,594 crore in December, bringing the total to Rs 1.7 lakh crore

Education sector gets Rs 1.29 lakh crore in Budget 2025

Allocation for schools has been increased to Rs 78,572.10 crore from Rs 73,008 crore (budget estimate), while higher education received Rs 50,077.95 crore.

MGNREGS outlay left unchanged at Rs 86,000 crore

This is the second time, the Centre has left the allocation for the rural job plan unchanged. For the current fiscal, too, the outlay for the scheme was the same as in 2023-24 at Rs 86,000 crore

Starting FY27, Centre to bring down debt-to-GDP ratio to 49-51% by FY31

Presenting the Budget for 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated the Centre's commitment to link its fiscal deficit glide path to debt-to-GDP ratio

Budget 2025 is a gentle nudge for India Inc to start capex cycle 

The Finance Minister has announced measures to boost consumption along with incentives to enhance domestic manufacturing and export competitiveness, especially for MSMEs

FY26 gross borrowing shoots up to Rs 14.82 lakh crore on repayments

In the first half of current financial year, the Centre has borrowed nearly Rs 7 lakh crore and plans to borrow Rs 6.61 lakh crore in the second half.

Around 7,000 farmer organisations are part of ONDC network

In addition to the FPOs, ONDC has also brought around 400 self-help groups, micro-entrepreneurs, and social sector enterprises on its platform, the Economic Survey has said

Budget 2025: Finance Minister needs to balance growth, fiscal discipline for RBI to cut rates

Market experts are of the view that if the Finance Minister announces growth-oriented measures in the budget, it would create the right conditions for a 25-50 bps rate cut in the RBI's February meeting

Union Budget 2025: Key facts and insights you need to know

The Union Budget 2025 is set to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Budget is likely to focus on changes in the income tax structure and improving the ease of doing business in India among other things. Interestingly, this will be Sitharaman’s seventh Budget presentation with five full term ones and one interim budget presented earlier this year.

Budget 2025: Oil & gas industry awaits inclusion of petroleum products under GST, compensation for LPG losses

The industry remains hopeful for any comments by the finance minister on the long-standing demand on the GST front, and is also looking for the government's position on green energy.

FM Sitharaman bats for capex over cash transfer to boost consumption

Sitharaman's comments come at a time when many states, amid elections, have announced and implemented cash-transfer schemes for key demographics, especially women.

FM Sitharaman to start pre-Budget consultation with various stakeholders from Dec 6

Union Budget 2025-26 is likely to be tabled in Parliament on February 1.

FM Sitharaman says Q-commerce can be leveraged globally to boost brand India; recognises need to support kiranas

Sitharaman's comments on this matter come at a time when there has been an intense debate around the impact of the rapid expansion of quick-commerce platforms on India's brick and mortar retail stores.

Government committed to reducing fiscal deficit to 4.9% by FY25: FM Sitharaman

The finance minister emphasised that reducing the fiscal deficit from 5.6 percent of GDP in FY24 to 4.9 percent in FY25 will "not only keep the bond yields in check but also manage borrowing costs"