Nirmala Sitharaman: News
Nirmala Sitharaman is an economist, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician, and the Finance Minister of India as of 2021. Sitharaman did her BA in Economics from Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College, Tamil Nadu. She pursued an MA in Economics and an MPhil from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi. After completing her education, she stayed in the UK for the next few years, where she worked with PwC and BBC. She returned to India in the 1990s and became an educationist. During 2003-05, she was a member of the National Commission for Women (NCW). In 2006, Sitharaman joined the BJP, and in 2010 she was appointed as the party’s national spokesperson and later planned BJP’s media campaigns. In 2014, when the NDA formed the government at the Centre, Nirmala Sitharaman was sworn in as the Minister of State (MoS) for Finance & Corporate Affairs and later for Commerce & Industry. In 2017, she became India’s first full-time female Defence Minister. After NDA roared back to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Sitharaman became India’s first full-time female Finance Minister. She has been a Rajya Sabha MP since 2014.
NSE hopes Modi government will reconsider STT hike on derivatives
India's leading stock exchange, the National Stock Exchange (NSE), is hopeful that the government will reconsider its decision to raise the securities transaction tax (STT) on index and single-stock futures.
High-level committee on Indian banking to be formed soon
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that the government will soon form a "High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat."
Fiery exchange in Rajya Sabha after Modi's LS speech canceled
The Rajya Sabha witnessed a fiery showdown on Thursday, with Union Minister JP Nadda accusing the Congress of being "held hostage to a naive child," apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi.
India's 100% FDI insurance law to be effective from tomorrow
The Indian government has announced that the new insurance law, which permits 100% foreign direct investment (FDI), will be implemented from tomorrow.
Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath Singh clash over ex-Army chief's unpublished memoir
The Lok Sabha was thrown into chaos on Monday as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi tried to quote from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General Manoj Naravane.
Indian bond yields hit highest level in over a year
Indian bond yields have surged to their highest level in over a year, following the government's announcement of an unprecedented debt-sale plan.
'Don't disparage India': Kiren Rijiu tells Rahul Gandhi, quotes Musk
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has quoted Tesla CEO Elon Musk to counter Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's economic policies.
Market crash doesn't reflect Budget quality: PM's Economic Advisor
Sanjeev Sanyal, the Economic Advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has downplayed the recent stock market crash.
Chidambaram avoids comment on Trump's 'dead economy' remark
Congress MP P Chidambaram on Sunday declined to comment on United States President Donald Trump's "India is a dead economy" statement.
'Anti-poor...detached from reality': Opposition parties slam Budget 2026
Opposition parties have slammed the Union Budget 2026, calling it "anti-poor" and "detached" from reality.
Fund allocation for food processing sector reduced in Budget 2026
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented the Union Budget 2026, her ninth consecutive central budget.
Union Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman allocates ₹9,000cr for GECL facility
In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated ₹9,000 crore under the Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) facility.
Rahul Gandhi lists 6 priorities 'ignored' in Union Budget 2026
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has slammed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for not addressing key issues such as unemployment and farmer distress in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Ahead of key state elections, ECI funding increased by 25%
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget for the fiscal year 2026/27 on Sunday, which includes a 25.33% hike in funding for the Election Commission (EC).
PM Modi's visit to Punjab dera sparks political debate
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ballan village in Punjab's Jalandhar district, just hours after the Union Budget 2026-27 was presented in Parliament.
Rare earth, rail, freight corridors: Poll-bound states major Budget beneficiaries
The Union Budget 2026 has announced several initiatives aimed at poll-bound states such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam.
Your stock buybacks will now be taxed as capital gains
In a major policy shift, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed taxing the proceeds of stock buybacks as capital gains instead of dividend income.
Union Budget 2026 allocates ₹18,000cr for power distribution reforms
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced an allocation of ₹18,000 crore for the Power Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in Union Budget 2026.
Union Budget 2026: Railways gets allocation of ₹2.81L crore
In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated ₹2.81 lakh crore to the Ministry of Railways.
Leather exporters get relief in Union Budget 2026
In a bid to boost India's leather exports, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed duty-free imports of certain specified inputs in Union Budget 2026.
Budget 2026: 'Khelo India Mission' launched to boost sports
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the launch of a new initiative called the 'Khelo India Mission.'
Union Budget 2026: No change in gold, silver import duties
The Indian government's Budget 2026 has kept the customs duty rates for gold and silver imports unchanged.
Union Budget 2026: Agriculture culture gets ₹1.62 trillion allocation
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a budget allocation of ₹1,62,671 crore for the agriculture sector in the Union Budget 2026.
Budget 2026: IndiaAI mission gets ₹1,000cr allocation
In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹1,000 crore allocation for the IndiaAI Mission.
Budget 2026: ₹2,000cr incentive scheme announced for UPI, RuPay cards
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a ₹2,000 crore incentive scheme for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay debit card.
What is 'orange economy' Sitharaman mentioned in Budget speech
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced new measures to support India's "Orange Economy," also known as the creative economy, in the Union Budget for 2026-27.
Union Budget 2026-27 roadmap for 'Viksit Bharat 2047': PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the Union Budget 2026-27 as a "historic" document and a roadmap for "Viksit Bharat 2047."
Budget 2026: No change in income tax slabs
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the Union Budget for 2026-27.
'Completely insipid': Congress's first reaction to Union Budget 2026
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has slammed the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it "completely insipid."
You can now file revised ITRs up to March 31
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced several changes in direct tax rules.
Union Budget 2026: Container manufacturing scheme worth ₹10,000cr announced
In a major move, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a dedicated scheme for establishing a domestic container manufacturing ecosystem.
Budget 2026: New dedicated freight corridor to connect Surat, Dankuni
In her ninth consecutive Union Budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a dedicated freight corridor between Surat in Gujarat and Dankuni in West Bengal.
Budget 2026: Sitharaman announces measures to boost animal husbandry, fisheries
In a bid to boost rural incomes and employment opportunities, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a slew of measures for the livestock and fisheries sectors in her Budget 2026-27 speech.
Budget 2026: New tax reliefs and penalties announced
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced major reforms in the Budget 2026, aimed at simplifying tax administration and reducing litigation.
How long did Sitharaman's ninth Budget speech last
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered her ninth consecutive Union Budget for FY 2026-27 on Friday.
Budget 2026 sets ₹80,000cr disinvestment target for FY27
The Indian government has set a disinvestment target of ₹80,000 crore for the financial year 2026-27.
Budget 2026: India to boosts astrophysics research, upgrade telescope facilities
In a major push for space science, the Union Budget has announced plans to establish and upgrade four key telescope and astronomy facilities in India.
Budget 2026: What becomes cheaper and costlier for you
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget earlier today.
Budget 2026: Sitharaman announces new scheme for Buddhist circuit
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a new scheme to develop a Buddhist circuit in the northeastern region of India.
Budget 2026: Medicines for 17 cancers to become cheaper
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's latest Budget has announced major changes in customs duties, especially for medicines.
Budget 2026-27: India to have 5 medical tourism hubs soon
In the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced plans to set up five medical tourism hubs and launch a "Biopharma Shakti programme" with an allocation of ₹10,000 crore over five years.
Budget Day jitters: Sensex crashes over 1,300 points
The Indian stock market witnessed a major crash on Wednesday, with the benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty falling sharply.
Budget 2026: Mental health prioritized as Sitharaman announces 'NIMHANS 2'
In a major push for mental health, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced plans to set up a second National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in North India.
Budget 2026: ₹20,000cr outlay announced for carbon capture and storage
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a major push for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology in the 2026 Budget.
Budget 2026: 20-year tax holiday to draw data center investments
In a major move to make India a global digital hub, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a proposed 20-year tax holiday for foreign companies setting up data centers and cloud computing infrastructure in the country.
Budget 2026: 3 new AIIMS, 1 girls' hostel per district
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a major initiative in the Union Budget 2026-27. The government will build one girls' hostel in every district of India.
Budget 2026: India sets FY27 fiscal deficit target at 4.3%
The Indian government has announced a fiscal deficit target of 4.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the financial year 2026-27.
Sitharaman announces 'Mahatma Gandhi Gram Samaj' initiative to support khadi
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a major initiative to boost India's traditional craft sector.
New income tax act will be effective from April 1
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that the new Income Tax Act will come into effect from April 1, 2026.
Budget 2026: Sitharaman announces 3 All India Institutes of Ayurveda
In a major push for Ayurveda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Budget 2026: India to establish content creator labs in schools
In a major push for the creative industry, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced plans to establish content creator labs in schools and colleges across India.
Budget 2026: High-powered committee to boosy services sector, AI push
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the formation of a high-powered committee to recommend measures focused on the services sector.
Budget 2026: FM sets ₹12.2L crore capex target for infrastructure
Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled a capital expenditure (capex) target of ₹12.2 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2026-27.
Budget 2026: India to launch multilingual AI assistant for farmers
In her Budget 2026 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of Bharat Vistaar, a multilingual AI-powered tool.
Budget 2026: 'BioPharma Shakti' initiative with ₹10,000cr allocation announced
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's announcement of a ₹10,000 crore allocation for the "Biopharma Shakti" program in Union Budget 2026 has sent pharma stocks soaring.
Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman unveils 6-point strategy for economic growth
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled a six-point strategy to accelerate and sustain India's economic growth.
Budget 2026: Sitharaman announces ₹10,000cr SME growth fund
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced several measures in the Union Budget 2026 to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
AI can be growth multiplier, says Nirmala Sitharaman in Budget
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can serve as growth multipliers.
Budget 2026: Rare earth corridors to come up in states
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the establishment of dedicated rare earth corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
7 high-speed rail corridors to link India's growth cities
In her ninth consecutive Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed seven high-speed rail corridors to serve as "growth connectors."
Budget 2026-2027 driven by 3 kartavyas: Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled the Union Budget 2026, with a vision centered on the marginalized and underprivileged sections of society.
Sitharaman's Budget speech focusing on 'Part B': What is it?
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting a more detailed and substantive Part B in her Budget speech today.
Budget 2026: India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 announced with 40,000cr overlay
In her record-breaking ninth consecutive Budget presentation today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman officially announced the next phase of India's technological evolution by launching India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0.
Union Budget 2026-27 approved by Cabinet ahead of presentation
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Union Budget for 2026-27.
'Will be historic': Rijiju as Union Cabinet approves Budget 2026-2027
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha at 11:00am on Saturday.
Budget 2026: Analysts pick 11 stocks to watch today
As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to unveil the Union Budget for FY2026-27, analysts have identified 11 stocks that could be potential winners.
Railway Budget 2026 likely to restore ticket concessions for seniors
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will unveil the Railway Budget 2026 as part of the Union Budget on Sunday.
'Dahi-cheeni' before Budget: President's gesture for FM and its significance
Ahead of the Union Budget presentation, President Droupadi Murmu performed a customary ritual by offering dahi-cheeni (curd and sugar) to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman's Kanjeevaram silk saree choice
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a cultural statement with her attire for the Union Budget 2026 presentation.
Finance Minister meets President ahead of Budget session
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met President Droupadi Murmu today, in a customary pre-Budget presentation meeting.
What is bahi-khata, the red ledger Sitharaman carries during Budget
As the Union Budget 2026 nears its countdown, every Indian's attention will be on the red budget file carried by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Nirmala Sitharaman presents Union Budget 2026-2027
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented the Union Budget 2026-2027, her record ninth consecutive budget presentation.
Budget for FY27 pegged at ₹54L crore, up 7.9% YoY
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to present a ₹54.1 lakh crore Union Budget for FY2026-27, according to a report by Sunidhi Securities & Finance Limited.
Budget 2026: When and how to watch Sitharaman's presentation speech
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for 2026-27 on February 1.
Budget session: Lok Sabha to debate president's address for 18hrs
The Parliament's Budget Session is set for a busy agenda with important discussions on the president's Address and the Union Budget.
Economic Survey 2025-26: India's workforce crosses 560 million mark
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented India's Economic Survey 2025-26 in Parliament.
India's economy to grow at 7.2% in FY27: Economic Survey
India's economy is projected to grow between 6.8% and 7.2% in the fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27), according to the Economic Survey tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday.