Sat Feb 01 23:18:58 UTC 2025: ## Budget 2025 Focuses on Welfare, AI, and Tax Choices; Market Reaction Uncertain

**New Delhi** – India’s Union Budget 2025, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, prioritizes welfare schemes targeting the poor (“Gareeb”), youth, farmers (“Annadata”), and women (“Naari”). Significant allocations were made towards a ₹20,000 crore nuclear energy mission showcasing India’s commitment to AI and technological advancement. The budget also introduces a revised tax regime, offering taxpayers a choice between the new and old systems, prompting calculations on potential savings.

While the government lauded the budget as “people’s budget,” opposition parties criticized the lack of relief for the middle class. The budget includes a proposal to raise the income tax threshold to ₹12 lakh, but the overall impact on different income groups remains a subject of debate.

The budget’s impact on the financial markets is uncertain, with concerns about Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) outflows. Experts are analyzing the budget’s provisions and their potential effect on economic growth, inflation, and investor sentiment. The new tax regime’s details and the ongoing debate about its implications are expected to be closely followed in the coming weeks. The Economic Times offers detailed analysis and resources to help individuals understand the new tax regime and its implications.

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