- Tuesday, March 04, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (10) said his government’s budget this year has strengthened the middle class and given it more relief than was given by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime led by the Indian National Congress, which is currently in opposition.
For income on which the UPA government imposed as much as 20 per cent tax, this budget has zero tax, Modi said, after flagging off two Vande Bharat trains from Mumbai to Solapur and Shirdi in Maharashtra.
“Be it the salaried class or the middle class earning from trade and commerce, this budget has made them happy,” the PM said, speaking after the flag off ceremony at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai.
“The middle class has been strengthened in this budget”, he said.
Modi said people with an income of more than Rs 2 lakh (£2,009) were taxed before 2014, but his government initially increased the limit to Rs 5 lakh (£5,022) and now to Rs 7 lakh (£7,031) in this year’s budget.
“Those who paid 20 per cent tax during the UPA government pay zero tax today”, Modi said.
Those with new jobs now have an opportunity to save more, he said. The PM expressed confidence that this budget that promotes the spirit of ‘Sabka Vikas Sabka Prayas’ (Development for All, Effort by All) will give strength to every family and encourage everyone to build a Viksit Bharat (developed India).
The PM flagged off Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat and Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat trains. He also launched two road projects, the Santacruz Chembur Link Road and Kurar underpass project, aimed at easing road traffic congestion and streamline the movement of vehicles in Mumbai.
On January 19, the PM inaugurated and laid foundation stones for infrastructure and healthcare projects worth more than Rs 38,000 crore in Mumbai. His visit assumes significance in view of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.
(PTI)
