In her Budget speech on Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed the formation of a Makhana Board in Bihar.
Makhana, also known as foxnuts, is a nutritious food widely produced and consumed in the state.
Under the One District One Product scheme, Makhana producers have greatly benefited, and the Makhana Research Center has achieved national institution status. The GI tag has also been awarded to Makhana, further promoting its significance.
In her opening remarks, Sitharaman emphasized the government's focus on Garib, Youth, Annadata, and Nari. "Our economy is the fastest-growing among all major global economies. Our development track record of the past 10 years and structural reforms have drawn global attention. Confidence in India's capability and potential has only grown in this period. We see the next five years as a unique opportunity to realize 'Sabka Vikas', stimulating balanced growth of all regions," she said.
Additionally, Sitharaman announced the establishment of a new urea plant in Assam, aimed at augmenting the country's urea supply. The new plant, with an annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tons, will be located at Namrup, Assam. Furthermore, three dormant urea plants in the Eastern region will be reopened, she revealed.
The budget also highlighted plans to increase the spending power of India's growing middle class. "Union Budget 2025-26 with an effort to a. Accelerate growth b. Secure inclusive development c. Invigorate society and industry d. Uplift household sentiment and e. Enhance spending on power of India's rising middle class," she noted.
While acknowledging the geopolitical challenges that may slow global economic growth, the Finance Minister expressed confidence in India's robust economic foundation.
The government’s development policies and structural reforms over the past decade have helped position India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, bolstering global confidence in India’s potential. This, she noted, makes the next five years a pivotal period for holistic development.
The Finance Minister also reiterated the government's vision of 'Sabka Vikas' (Development for All), which aims to foster balanced growth across all regions. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to unlocking India’s full potential and enhancing its global standing.