Union Budget 2024 LIVE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents Interim Budget 2024

Earlier today, the Budget was announced. As elections drew near, an interim budget was presented, acting as a transitional financial plan for the government’s remaining months in power. Here are the highlights:

Focussing on Women:
•⁠ ⁠30 crore Mudra Yojana loans to women entrepreneurs
•⁠ ⁠28% increase in female higher education enrollment in 10 years
•⁠ ⁠43% of female enrollment in STEM courses
•⁠ ⁠1 crore women assisted by 83 lakh SHGs to become Lakhpati Didis

Focussing on overall youth and startup ecosystem:
•⁠ ⁠4 crore youth trained under Skill India Mission
•⁠ ⁠43 crore loans sanctioned under PM Mudra Yojana for youth entrepreneurship
•⁠ ⁠Agriculture Accelerator Fund for agri-start-ups
•⁠ ⁠Three AI centres to promote "Make AI in India and Make AI Work for India”
•⁠ ⁠Green Credit Programme for environmentally sustainable ventures
•⁠ ⁠₹2 lakh crore collateral-free credit for MSMEs, reducing credit cost by about 1%