Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the government is continuously emphasising and spending higher and higher amounts in capital expenditure since after Covid. She said effective capital expenditure can be pegged at 15.02 lakh crores rupees or 18 per cent over 2023-24. The Finance Minister was making a reply to the discussion on the Finance Bill, Appropriation Bill and Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill in the Rajya Sabha today.

Initiating discussion, Congress MP Vivek Tankha said women do not have special tax slabs in the country. He demanded a dedicated working complex for women entrepreneurs. Ramilaben Bara of BJP said this budget is for the poor, villagers, youth and women. She added that the Finance minister has proposed various provisions for the benefit of women in this bill. AITC MP Dola Sen demands to withdraw 18 per cent GST on Life and health insurance. YSRCP MP V. Vijayasai Reddy requested the Finance Minister to convert all saving accounts to zero balance saving accounts like other accounts under various schemes. Sanjay Singh from AAP, Debasish Samantara of BJD, and DMK’s Kanimozi NVN Somu also participated in the discussion.