Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

September 17, 2026 3:09 PM

Sitharaman launches ‘Bharat Vann’ green initiative at Lodhi Colony Park

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated the 'Bharat Vann' green initiative at Lodhi Colony Park in central Delhi, aimed at promoting urban ecological restoration and expanding green cover in the national capital. The initiative was launched in collaboration with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday. Speaking at the launch, Sitharaman said the project would develop a dense green forest area in the heart ...

June 19, 2026 6:46 PM

Northeast can lead India’s growth story through organic agriculture: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday that the Northeast has the potential to emerge as India's next growth powerhouse by leveraging its strengths in organic farming, sustainable agriculture and premium-quality produce, asserting that the region could lead the country's development journey in the years ahead. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Northeast's largest organic spice processing plant at Bhoirymbong in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district, Sitharaman said the fut...

May 25, 2026 8:13 PM

India pushes for global textile leadership with $100 billion export target

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday called for strengthening the textile value chain “from farm to fibre, factory, fashion and foreign markets” to build a robust and globally competitive textile sector, while outlining ambitious targets of USD 100 billion in textile exports and USD 250 billion in textile production by 2030. Addressing the TEXPROCIL Export Awards 2023–24 ceremony in Mumbai, Sitharaman said achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 would require accelera...

May 25, 2026 3:38 PM

SIDBI must evolve from lender to ‘market maker’ and ‘risk-sharing’ partner: FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) must move beyond traditional lending and play a bigger role in supporting India's MSME and startup ecosystem. Addressing SIDBI's 37th Foundation Day celebrations in Mumbai, Sitharaman said the institution should emerge as a "market maker and risk-sharing partner" for small businesses and startups. "SIDBI's role must now expand from being only a lender to becoming a market maker and r...

February 23, 2026 9:11 PM

Finance Minister Sitharaman launches National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0, estimates ₹16.72 trillion asset potential

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday launched the second phase of the National Monetisation Pipeline, or NMP 2.0, outlining an estimated asset monetisation potential of ₹16.72 lakh crore over the five-year period from FY 2026 to FY 2030, according to a statement issued by NITI Aayog. The second phase of the asset monetisation pipeline for Central ministries and public sector entities has been developed by NITI Aayog in consultation with infrastructure line ministries, based on t...

November 21, 2025 4:22 PM

FM holds 11th pre-budget meeting with experts from infrastructure and energy sectors

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday chaired the 11th Pre-Budget Consultation with experts from the infrastructure and energy sectors in New Delhi, as part of preparations for the Union Budget 2026–27. The Ministry of Finance said on X that senior officials from the Ministries of Power, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Road Transport and Highways attended the meeting, along with the Railway Board Chairman and the Chief Economic Adviser. This was the latest in a series of con...

June 14, 2025 6:08 PM

Structural reforms in last 11 years reshaped India’s macroeconomic fundamentals: FM Sitharaman

Structural reforms implemented over the last 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership have reshaped India’s macroeconomic fundamentals, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday. India’s emergence as the fastest-growing major economy is anchored in several favourable factors and is closely linked to the strengthening of balance sheets across key sectors — banks, corporates, households, the government, and the external sector — the Finance Minister wrote in...

April 9, 2025 9:40 AM

India offers a compelling growth opportunity for foreign banks: FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has highlighted India as a compelling destination for foreign banks and financial institutions, underlining the government’s active encouragement of foreign investment in the country’s rapidly expanding banking and financial sector. Speaking on Tuesday at the India-UK Investor Roundtable in London, which brought together around 60 representatives from pension funds, insurance firms, banks, and other financial institutions, the Minister outlined the ...

February 8, 2025 3:14 PM

RBI hints further steps to ensure liquidity, US tariff uncertainties to cool off soon

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has always focused on ease of credit and will take further steps to ensure that enough liquidity remains in the banking system as there is "room for improvement", Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Saturday, adding that US-related tariff uncertainties will cool off in the coming months. Addressing the media along with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the national capital, Malhotra also said the central bank is not targeting any price band for the rupee ...

August 19, 2024 7:52 PM

Sitharaman asks public sector banks to work on deposit mobilisation

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a meeting on Monday to review the performance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), focusing on key financial parameters, deposit mobilisation, digital payments, and cyber security frameworks. The meeting also addressed access to credit under financial inclusion and other emerging banking issues. During the meeting, it was observed that PSBs had shown strong performance across all financial metrics in the fiscal year 2023-24. Key highlights include a s...