Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed allegations from the opposition that states ruled by opposition parties were ignored in the Union Budget 2024. During her address in the Lok Sabha, she emphasized that no state was denied funds and highlighted historical precedents from past UPA governments. Sitharaman also presented data from an SBI research report showcasing significant job creation under the current government and increased budget allocations for social schemes and the agriculture sector.
5 Major Key Points:
- Refutation of Opposition Claims: Sitharaman asserted that no state was denied funds in the Union Budget 2024, countering opposition allegations of bias against opposition-ruled states.
- Historical Precedents: She referenced past UPA government budgets, noting that several states were also not mentioned in those budgets, yet funds were allocated to them.
- Job Creation Data: Citing an SBI research report, Sitharaman highlighted that India created 12.5 crore jobs between 2014 and 2023, a significant increase compared to 2.9 crore jobs during the UPA’s tenure from 2004 to 2014.
- Decline in Unemployment Rates: The unemployment rate in India has decreased from 6% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2022-23, with youth unemployment (ages 15-29) falling from 17.8% to 10% in the same period.
- Increased Budget Allocations: The minister noted substantial increases in budget allocations for social schemes and the agriculture sector, with the latter’s allocation growing from ₹30,000 crore in 2013-14 to ₹1.52 lakh crore in 2023-24.
