Finance Minister

July 1, 2026 3:03 PM

FM Nirmala Sitharaman embarks on four-day France visit to deepen strategic economic partnership

Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday embarked on a four-day official visit to France to strengthen the India-France Strategic Partnership through a series of high-level engagements focused on economic cooperation, investment, technology and innovation. During the visit, Sitharaman will participate in bilateral meetings, interact with global business leaders and co-chair the India-France Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) with France's Minister of Econo...

May 25, 2026 11:19 AM

Centre moves to overhaul CBSE payment gateway system amid re-evaluation portal issues

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday held discussions with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the technical and payment-related difficulties faced by students during the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) post-result and re-evaluation process. Following the meeting, it was decided that four major public sector banks - State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank and Indian Bank - will assist CBSE in strengthening its payment gateway infrastructure and i...

April 24, 2026 4:57 PM

FM Sitharaman warns of ‘unprecedented’ AI risks, urges banks to bolster cyber defences

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that Indian banks are adequately prepared to deal with emerging technology-related challenges, even as she raised fresh concerns over risks linked to a new artificial intelligence model developed by Anthropic. Speaking to reporters, FM Sitharaman noted that India is closely monitoring the potential threats posed by Anthropic’s Mythos AI model, which has drawn global attention for its advanced capabilities. The remarks came after Sitharaman c...

February 12, 2026 5:55 PM

PM Modi hails FM Sitharaman for presenting comprehensive Budget roadmap to transform economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday for giving a comprehensive picture of how the 2026-27 Budget will contribute to the country’s economic transformation. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote: “In her speech in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Ji gave a comprehensive picture of how this year’s Budget will contribute to our nation’s economic transformation. She emphasised the Reform Express, support to MSMEs, skilling, push to next-...

February 2, 2026 8:54 PM

STT hike on F&O meant to curb speculation, protect retail investors: Sitharaman

A day after the Union Budget announcement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the hike in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options (F&O) trading is intended to discourage speculative activity and protect retail investors from mounting losses. Speaking to reporters, Sitharaman said she had received calls from parents expressing concern that their children were losing money in derivatives trading. “F&O is a highly speculative market,” she said, adding th...

February 1, 2026 9:45 PM

Union Budget 2026-27 proposes three new chemical parks

The Union Budget 2026-27 has proposed the establishment of three new dedicated Chemical Parks to strengthen domestic chemical manufacturing and reduce India’s dependence on imports. Presenting the Budget in the Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Chemical Parks will be developed through a challenge-based route on a cluster-based, plug-and-play model. The initiative is aimed at enhancing scale, efficiency and competitiveness in the chemicals sector. The government will als...

February 1, 2026 9:48 PM

Union Budget 2026-27 reaffirms commitment to affordable fertilisers and farmer support

The Union Budget 2026-27 has reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the timely availability of fertilisers to farmers at affordable prices, while supporting domestic production and promoting balanced and sustainable nutrient use. Presenting the Budget in Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an estimated net allocation of ₹1.71 lakh crore for the Department of Fertilisers in 2026–27. The allocation aims to shield farmers from volatility in global fertiliser...

February 1, 2026 8:28 PM

Union Budget 2026-27 puts exports at core of growth strategy

The Union Budget 2026-27 places exports and international trade at the centre of India’s growth strategy, outlining a broad set of reforms and investments aimed at boosting employment, scaling manufacturing and strengthening India’s integration with global value chains. Anchored in fiscal discipline, macroeconomic stability and sustained public capital expenditure, the Budget advances a comprehensive agenda to position India as a competitive and resilient global trading partner, aligned wit...

February 1, 2026 8:18 PM

Union Budget 2026-27: FM Sitharaman announces major boost for Orange Economy and creative education

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a series of initiatives in the Union Budget 2026-27 aimed at strengthening India’s Orange Economy and expanding creative education, with a special focus on youth and women. Presenting the Budget in Parliament, FM Sitharaman highlighted the rapid growth of India’s animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC) sector, noting that it is projected to require nearly two million skilled professionals by 2030. To support this demand, th...

February 1, 2026 7:56 PM

Agriculture Budget at Rs 1.32 lakh crore, focused on farmers’ progress and development: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday described the Union Budget 2026–27 as “historic and unprecedented”, saying it lays a strong foundation for building a developed and self-reliant India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the media, Chouhan noted that this was the 12th Union Budget presented under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the ninth consecutive Budget presented by ...