Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman has started her Budget 2021 speech in parliament. Ms Sitharaman said that the preparation of the budget was undertaken in circumstances like never before. She stated that the total impact of Atmanirbhar Bharat and measures by Reserve Bank of India was ? 27.1 lakh crore, which amounts to 30 per cent of GDP.
Atmanirbhar Bharat schemes announced in 2020 were like five mini budgets themselves, said the Finance Minister. She added that two more Covid-19 vaccines will arrive.
Ms Sitharaman is presenting the ninth budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in the Lok Sabha.
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" the Finance Minister quoted Rabindranath Tagore, adding that this moment in history is the dawn of a new era, where India is well-poised to be the land of promise and hope".
Talking about the COVID-19 pandemic situation, she said that the country has the lowest mortality rate, which has been reflected in the economic recovery. Budget 2021 will provide new opportunities for economic recovery, according to Ms Sitharaman.
