Budget 2019 LIVE: Economy To Reach $3 trillion This Fiscal Itself, Says Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the re-elected Narendra Modi government's first Union Budget. Stay with BOOM for all the LIVE updates from Parliament as we take you through the new government's budget proposals
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reached Parliament to present her re-elected government's first Union Budget. Sitharaman created a buzz in the morning as she arrived at Parliament carrying a red cloth folder, which her officials described as 'bahi khata'. This is in contrast to previous finance ministers who arrived on budget day carrying a customary briefcase. Sitharaman's budget will be keenly watched, as it comes at the back of record unemployment, farm distress, a sagging investment ecosystem and contracting service sector. Macroeconomic cues are not encouraging either, with the rise of protectionism trade disputes (specifically the US-China trade war) emanating around the world.
There are also expectations of the budget providing an impetus to government spending and changes made to tax slabs in a bid to provide more relief to the taxpayers.