ADVERTISEMENT

Budget 2019 Highlights: "We Have Set Ball Rolling For New India," Says Nirmala Sitharaman

Budget 2019 India: Nirmala Sitharaman focused on improving infrastructure and helping farmers
Budget 2019 India: Nirmala Sitharaman focused on improving infrastructure and helping farmers

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2019 in parliament today. "We have set the ball rolling for a new India," she said as she opened her speech. This was the first full Budget of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in its second term, after coming to power with a massive win in the national election held in April and May. "It took India 55 years to reach a $1 trillion economy. When hearts are with hopes and aspirations, we added $1 trillion in just five years. The common man was served even when transformational reforms were laid out. We have to invest heavily in infrastructure. Citizens felt the difference in every nook and corner. Our focus has been mazboot desh ke liye mazboot nagrik (strong citizens for a strong nation)," Ms Sitharaman said. In the Economic Survey 2018-19 - whose main author was Chief Economic Adviser K Subramanian - presented in parliament by Ms Sitharaman on Thursday, PM Modi has set a challenging target of turning India into a $5 trillion economy in the next five years from $2.7 trillion, which will require an annual growth rate of over 10 per cent.

Here are the highlights of Union Budget 2019, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: