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PremiumBudget 2025 Expectations Highlights: Indian taxpayers, especially the middle class and corporate India alike are seeking tax reforms such as revised income tax slabs, lower GST rates, regulatory updates, Drand anticipating various capex allocation announcements in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's eighth Budget speech on February 1, 2025. Taxpayers are keenly watching for some relief for the middleclass amid the current economic situation.
The first part of the Parliament's Budget session is confirmed to begin from January 31 till February 13, 2025. And the second part of the session will commence on March 10 and conclude on April 4, 2025.
Budget 2025 date and time
Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2025 in Parliament on February 1, 2025. Her speech will start at 11 am in the Lok Sabha.
The Union budget will be broadcast on the official channels of the Parliament, Doordarshan, and Sansad TV. It will also be streamed on the government's official YouTube channels.
Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2025 speech can be watched live on Livemint.com. And all the latest updates about the Budget 2025, can be tracked on livemint.com Budget live blog.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Eighth Union Budget Speech
From ordinary taxpayers to tech, healthcare, insurance, and finance sectors, in Sitharaman's eighth Budget speech, expectations are high for significant announcements aimed at reviving the economy, the job market, and boosting consumer sentiments.
This will be Sitharaman's second full-fledged Budget in Modi 3.0, and her overall her eighth budget presentation in Parliament. She has presented six annual and two interim budgets under the NDA government's consecutive terms in power at the Centre.
While there has been official statement from the Finance Ministry yet, as per convention over the past years, the finance minister is expected to give her Budget speech in Parliament at 11 am on February 1, 2025. Further, as per official circulars, the BSE and NSE will remain open on February 1, 2025, despite it being a Saturday due to the Union Budget 2025-26.
Budget 2025 News LIVE: "With inflation showing no signs of abating within the Reserve Bank of India's target range in the near future, I believe the finance minister will implement necessary policy measures to curb price increases. This could involve reducing taxes on consumer goods such as packaged food and edible oils. This would boost household disposable income and positively impact private consumption. Furthermore, I believe the Budget should include measures to encourage savings through tax rationalisation and stimulate loan growth. A separate announcement on developing future-proof digital infrastructure for the financial sector in the era of artificial intelligence is also anticipated," said Shri V. P. Nandakumar, MD and CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd.
Budget 2025 News LIVE: Pravin Kumar Agarwal, Managing Director and Chairman, Garuda Construction and Engineering Limited said,
"As the upcoming budget approaches, Garuda Construction and Engineering Limited is confident in the government's sustained focus on infrastructure development and capital investment. The construction and engineering sectors are key drivers of national growth, and we are eager to see policies that facilitate the acceleration of crucial infrastructure projects, particularly in urban development, large public spaces, and transportation networks. We are hopeful for increased budget allocations towards public-private partnership models, allowing specialised EPC players like us to take on large-scale, complex projects across various sectors.
A progressive budget prioritising infrastructure, hydropower, and the development of expansive community spaces will not only strengthen the backbone of our sector but also propel India towards inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth. We expect the budget to focus on building sustainable energy infrastructure, including hydropower projects across states, which are vital to achieving the country's renewable energy targets. Additionally, we look forward to reforms that address liquidity concerns, streamline project execution through regulatory simplifications, and incentivise technological advancements in construction. A strong emphasis on sustainability initiatives, such as promoting green building materials, energy-efficient infrastructure, and eco-friendly development, would further enhance India's position as a global leader in sustainable progress."
Budget 2025 News LIVE: Rizwan Soomar, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, DP World Middle East North Africa and India Subcontinent said,
“Investments in logistics infrastructure has a direct impact on growth of trade. Further, increase in capex outlay focused on a multimodal transport ecosystem, modernizing physical, digital, and social infrastructure, will help in enhancing India's connectivity to emerging and mature markets. Railways are the backbone of India's logistics ecosystem. Look forward to the dedicated rail freight corridors operationalized to scale movement to/from ports and to connect production/consumption centres in India even more effectively.
Similarly, the investments in infrastructure and facilities at ports and inland cargo terminals, too, must be encouraged and incentivized. Further digitalization and automation of freight operations could be prioritised to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of logistics. Sustainability is a vital, underlying aspect of the infrastructure and logistics sectors. Promoting the use of renewable-energy shore power systems at India's ports and adoption of electric vehicles at ports and logistics facilities through suitable tax incentives will enhance the country’s green credentials in trade. The Budget could also consider introducing new export incentives and strengthening the implementation of existing schemes which will reduce export costs and enhance global competitiveness of India's goods."
Budget 2025 News LIVE: Alouk Kumar, CEO and Founder of Inductus said,
"A key priority should be strengthening India's position as a global powerhouse through export of services and commodities, keeping into context the prevailing geo-political scenario including a strong focus upon developing India’s role in providing Global Capability & Innovation Centers.
We recommend introducing targeted tax benefits and grants in proportion to Job creation and Up-skilling Initiatives to further boost & strengthen the GCC ecosystem and growth. Taking inspiration from successful global models like Singapore's Smart Nation Initiative, we need to develop advanced digital infrastructure and smart tech parks.
Budget allocation for workforce development through skill-building programs for emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing including deep tech, similar to Germany's Dual Education System, will be crucial for meeting emerging GCC talent demands. As per estimation, India will require around 2 million additional tech resources in addition to the existing 1.6 million resources, employed currently with GCCs.
Also, there is a need for budgetary provisions for providing tax holidays for the GCCs setting up their operations in tier 2 cities to stay competitive with their global counterparts and also to promote inclusivity across the nation.
To boost entrepreneurship and strengthen the backbone of India’s economy, the Union Budget 2025 should also consider prioritizing targeted measures to empower MSMEs and startups.
Which may include facilitating credit access on simplified terms, tax incentives for integration & promotion of innovation & R&D initiatives, and skill development programs at the rural level. Additionally, establishing fair digital taxation frameworks for global tech giants and consultancy firms will ensure they contribute equitably to India's growth story."
Budget 2025 News LIVE: According to Munindra Verma, CEO of M1NXT, Budget 2025 must address the persistent liquidity challenges faced by exporters, especially as the government moves forwards towards achieving $2 trillion exports by 2030.
Expectations:
Budget 2025 Expectations LIVE: The budget should place a strong emphasis on MSMEs, as they are crucial for fostering innovation and contribute significantly to GDP, in addition to playing a vital role in local employment, particularly in underserved regions, feels Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO of Tide India.
“At this transformative juncture, I believe the upcoming Union Budget must prioritise targeted reforms to fuel their growth and resilience," he added.
Expectations include:
As the Budget date approaches, taxpayers are anxious about potential cuts in income tax slabs. A stark analysis reveals how the 30% income tax slab disproportionately affects India's middle class, eroding their purchasing power and leaving them grappling with rising costs. Will relief finally come? Aarti Raote of Deloitte India takes a look. Read full here
Budget 2025 Expectations LIVE: Innovation in medical technology, especially homegrown solutions, is essential for a self-reliant India, feels Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, SS Innovations.
“As we pursue the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, it is vital to not only promote indigenous technology but also ensure it reaches the people it is intended to serve, particularly through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat. Government support for Indian innovation will help make medical technologies both affordable and accessible to the masses," Srivastava added.
Expectations:
Budget 2025 Expectations LIVE: Dr Vishal Arora, Chief of Business Transformation & Operational Excellence of Artemis Hospitals feels the Budget offers a critical opportunity for India to address long-standing gaps in its healthcare system.
Expectations:
Union Budget 2025 News LIVE: The upcoming Union Budget 2025 holds immense promise for India’s real estate sector, especially as it seeks robust reforms to strengthen housing infrastructure and encourage sustainable urban development, feels Ajay Agrawal, MD of BramhaCorp.
Expectations include:
Budget 2025 Expectations LIVE: The Budget work to maintain, if not increase capex, in the range of ₹11 lakh crore that will provide a fillip to investment, according to Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist of Bank of Baroda.
“We do believe that the starting point of the budget will be the fiscal deficit and efforts will be made to lower the ratio by 0.5% to probably close to 4.3-4.4% of GDP for FY26," he said.
Expectations:
Budget 2025 Expectations LIVE: Shashank Paranjape, MD of Paranjape Schemes Construction is optimistic about initiatives in the Budget to boost the real estate sector.
“From our perspective, as we plan to launch several new projects in 2025, it is critical to assess how government policies might influence market sentiment, pricing structures, and customer buying potential," he added.
Expectations include:
Budget 2025 News LIVE: The government’s continued focus on the MSME sector is encouraging, feels Sundeep Mohindru, Promoter and Director of M1xchange. He added that they expect an even stronger thrust on fostering MSME growth this year to achieve India's $5 trillion economic vision.
“To address the persistent credit gap for MSMEs, the budget should prioritise expanding the reach of collateral-free credit financing platform and reduce borrowing costs for small businesses," he added.
Expectations include:
Union Budget 2025 Expectations: Anticipation is high that the government will continue its strong support for India's startup ecosystem, according to Kunal Mundra, CEO & Co-founder of Electrifi Mobility.
He expects focused measures that include enhanced financial support mechanisms and simplified regulatory frameworks to further empower the sector.
Expectations include:
Budget 2025 Expectations Live: The Indian wellness industry currently holds a projected value of over $72 billion for 2025, according to Prabhat Maheshwari, Co-Founder and Director of Amocare. He added that the sector has witnessed “remarkable growth in India, with CAGR of 28 per cent by 2025".
Key expectations include:
Budget News LIVE: Rahul Thomas, Whole-Time Director of Suraj Estate Developers believes that while Budget 2024 “laid a good foundation" for affordable housing and infrastructure, “now (Budget 2025) is the time for more impactful reforms, especially with rising luxury housing market".
Thomas added that luxury homes are seeing a big surge in demand, and if the budget includes a stronger push for sustainable, green construction and urban development, it could open doors to new opportunities while addressing environmental concerns.
“This budget has the potential to move beyond incremental changes and truly redefine the future of India’s real estate sector, making it more dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready. However, the specific details will depend on the government’s priorities and the overall economic situations," he added.
Union Budget 2025 Expectations LIVE: The real estate industry is hoping for reduction in GST on brokerage, higher tax exemptions in this Budget from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, according to Amit Chopra, President NAR India.
Expectations include:
Budget 2025 Expectations LIVE: When and where to watch Union Budget 2025?
Good morning and welcome to Livemint' coverage of the Union Budget 2025 and expectations of crores of Indians and corporates.
Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2025 speech can be watched live on Livemint.com. And all the latest updates about the Budget 2025, can be tracked on livemint.com Budget live blog. Stay tuned for the latest developments!
