Union Budget 2024-25 Unveils Key Sector Measures

The Union Budget 2024-25 has introduced significant measures aimed at boosting various sectors, with a notable emphasis on women's development, MSME support, and agricultural advancements. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹3 trillion allocation for schemes benefiting women and girls, including working women's hostels and creches. The budget also proposes a ₹100 crore credit guarantee scheme and increases in MUDRA loan limits to support MSMEs. Despite praise for initiatives like the promotion of natural farming and infrastructure investments, there has been criticism for the lack of a minimum support price for farmers' produce and insufficient support for the tourism sector in South India. States like Chhattisgarh have mixed reactions, with concerns about specific regional projects like the Polavaram Irrigation Project. Overall, the budget aims at employment generation, skilling, and sustainable development, but some stakeholders feel it falls short of expectations in certain areas.