FM Nirmala Sitharaman presents India’s first ever paperless Budget
New Delhi, Feb 1: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2021 in the Parliament on Monday. It was the first time that the Budget was presented using a tablet instead of paper as a Covid-19 safeguard. She announced that the budget focuses on 6-pillars – Health & Wellbeing, Physical & Financial Capital and Infrastructure, Inclusive development of Aspirational India, Reinvigorating Human Capital, Innovation and R&D, and Minimum Government and maximum Governance.
Health & Wellbeing
The Budget includes an outlay (total spend) of Rs. 2,23,846 crores for 2021-22 for healthcare as compared to Rs. 94,452 for the previous year. This accounts for a whopping 135% increase since last year. The Made in India Pneumococcal Vaccine to be rolled out across the country. Rs. 35,000 crores were announced for Covid- 19 vaccination programme.Rs. 2,217 crores outlay to tackle air pollution. Jal Jeevan Mission launched for universal supply of water in all Urban Local Bodies.
Infrastructure
- National Rail Plan aims at developing adequate railway infrastructure with an outlay of Rs. 1.10 lakh crores.
- 100% electrification of Broad- Gauge Routes by 2023.
- Government aims to complete 11,000 km of national highway construction this year.
- Rs. 18,000 crores for public buses.
- Ujjawala Scheme (PNG) to cover more than 1 crore beneficiaries.
Industry
- Government’s Production Linked Incentive Scheme(PLI) launched to create manufacturing global champions across 13 sectors. Rs. 1.97 lakh crore for the next 5 years has been committed for the scheme.
- MITRA scheme will create world class infrastructure in textile sector leading to creation of 7 textile parks over 3 years.
Agriculture
- Government increased the amount of Agriculture credit to Rs. 16.5 lakh crores so that farmers have adequate credit.
- Rs. 40,000 crores allocated to Rural InfrastructureDevelopment Funds.
- 1000 new mandis to be integrated with e-NAM (electronicNational Agricultural Market).
- MSP (Minimum Support Price) regime to assureprocurement price that is at least 1.5 times the cost of production.
Education
- To open 100 new Sainik School, 750 Eklavya School in tribal areas.
- To strengthen 15000 schools under the National Education Policy.
- Central University to open in Leh.
Innovation and Research & Development
- National Research Foundation outlay of Rs. 50,000 crores.
- National Language Translate Mission (NLTM) to ensure Government policy related information in various Indian Languages.
Minimum Government maximum Governance
• Rs. 3,768 crores allocated to India’s first ever, milestone marking task – Digital census.
For more information read: Indiabudget.gov.in/pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage