Union Budget 2025: Live Coverage

A new fund-of-funds with expanded scope and a contribution of another Rs 10 thousand crores will be set up. 

Earlier, alternate investment fund (AIFs) for start-ups have received commitment of more than Rs 91 thousand crores. They were supported by the Fund-of-Funds set-up with the Government of India's contribution of Rs 10 thousand crores. 

Customised credit cards will be introduced for micro enterprises registered on the Udyam portal with a limit of Rs 5 lakh and 10 lakh such cards are to be issued in the first year 

For micro and small enterprises, credit guarantee cover will be increased from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crores, leading to additional credit of Rs 1.5 Lakh crores in the next 5 years.

For start-ups credit guarantee cover will be increased from Rs 10 crores to Rs 20 crores with a guarantee fee being moderated to 1% for loans in 27 focus sectors which are important for Atma nirbhar Bharat.

For well-run exporter MSMEs, term loans up to Rs 20 crores will be given

Currently, over 1 crore registered MSMEs employing 7.5 crore people and generating 36 per cent of India's manufacturing has positioned India as a global manufacturing hub, the FM stated. The MSMEs are responsible for 45 per cent of India's exports to help them achieve higher efficiencies of scale, technological upgradation, and better access to capital. The investment and turnover limits for classification of all MSMEs will be enhanced to 2.5 times and 2 times respectively. This will generate employment for the country's youth

The government is set to provide support to NCDCs for its lending operations for the cooperative sector

India Post with 1.5 lakh rural post offices complimented by the India Post Payment Bank and a vast network of 2.4 lakh daak sevaks will be repositioned as a catalyst for the rural economy. 

India Post will also be transformed as a large public logistics organisation. This will meet the needs of the vishwa karmas, women, self help groups (SHGs), MSMEs, and large business organisations

The FM highlighted that the government reopened 3 dormant urea plants in the eastern region and to further augment urea supply, a plant with annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes wil be set up in Namrup in Assam

Kisan Credit Cards facilitate short-term loans for 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers. The loan limit under modified interest subvention scheme will be enhanced from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs for loans taken through the KCC

A mission for cotton productivity is announced by the government. This is a 5-year mission will facilitate significant improvements in productivity and sustainability of cotton farming. It will promote extra long staple cotton varieties. Science and technology support will be provided to the cotton farmers. Aligned with the government's Integrated 5F vision (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) for the textile sector, the FM stated that this will help in increasing incomes of the farmers and ensure a steady supply of quality cotton for rejuvenating India's traditional textile sector. 

India ranks second in fish production and aquaculture; and sea food exports are valued at Rs 60 thousand crores. The government is set to bring in an enabling framework for sustainable harnessing of fisheries from Indian Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and high seas with a special focus on the Andaman & Nicobar and the Lakshadweep islands