Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting Budget 2025 today, February 1, 2025. She will begin her Budget speech at 11 am in the Lok Sabha.
Tax rules, investment policies, and economic plans may change. Stay updated here on Budget 2025 LIVE announcements. These updates can help you make better financial decisions in India
Will Stock Markets Open on Budget Day?
Yes, the stock markets will be open for trading on Saturday, February 1, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents Budget 2025. Trading will follow the usual hours from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM, as per NSE and BSE.
Markets are usually closed on weekends but open on special occasions like the Union Budget. They also remained open on February 1, 2020, and February 28, 2015, when budgets were presented on Saturdays.
Latest Budget 2025 LIVE Updates
12:24 PM IST: The new tax regime offers zero tax for income up to ₹12 lakh, and up to ₹12.75 lakh for salaried taxpayers, including a ₹75,000 standard deduction.
12:16 PM IST: The threshold limit for Tax Collected at Source (TCS) under Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) has been increased to ₹10 lakh, up from ₹7 lakh.
12:01 PM IST: India’s business regulations are being updated to stay in line with global policy and technology advancements, ensuring a modern framework for growth.
11:50 AM IST: India is updating its Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) to attract more foreign investments. A new agreement with the UAE will ensure better protection for investors.
11:45 AM IST: A revamped central KYC registry will streamline updates, reducing delays and improving efficiency for smoother financial transactions.
11:36 AM IST: The government has announced a new initiative to boost infrastructure through public-private partnerships (PPP). A three-year pipeline of projects will be created by states, focusing on projects that can be implemented in PPP mode. Each infrastructure ministry will develop a plan, and an outlay of ₹1.5 lakh crore will be allocated for 50-year interest-free loans.
11:31 AM IST: A new manufacturing mission under the Make in India initiative has been launched. It will support industries of all sizes with strong policy backing, aiming to create an ecosystem for solar PV cells, electrolysers, and large-scale batteries.
11:26 AM IST: A new Fund of Funds (FoF) with ₹10,000 crore will be launched to support startups. FoF invests in other funds like venture capital, boosting growth for startups. It has already attracted commitments of over ₹9 lakh crore.
11:20 AM IST: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced that India will become a global hub for toys. A new scheme will help 5 lakh women and first-time entrepreneurs with loans for the next 5 years. The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups will also be raised to ₹20 crore.
11:15 AM IST: In her speech, FM Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that India’s economy is the fastest-growing among major global economies. She emphasized that the next five years present a unique opportunity to achieve ‘Sabka Vikas,’ promoting balanced growth across all regions.
11:09 AM IST: FM Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that the Budget is centered around ‘transformative’ reforms in six key sectors: Taxation, Financial Sector, Power, Urban Development, Mining, and Regulatory Reforms.
11:04 AM IST: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has begun her Budget 2025 announcement.
10:30 AM IST: The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Budget 2025. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has left for Parliament, where she will soon present the Budget.
10:22 AM IST: President Murmu approves the Budget document and feeds Finance Minister Sitharaman the customary dahi-cheeni before the Budget presentation. The Cabinet will meet soon for final approval. This is Sitharaman’s eighth consecutive Budget
9:26 AM IST: She showed the digital budget tablet at North Block, continuing the paperless budget tradition.
9:07 AM IST: Finance Minister arrived at the Finance Ministry to start the budget day.
