Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that initiatives such as UPI, rapid infrastructure development, improved rail and air connectivity, and industrial corridors are transforming India’s economy. Addressing the media in Devanahalli near Bengaluru, Ms Sitharaman highlighted NDA government’s achievements of the past 12 years, including railway electrification, the introduction of Vande Bharat trains, and the establishment of new AIIMS and IITs across the country. She added that the income tax exemption limit has been raised from 2.5 lakh to 12.75 lakh rupees to benefit the middle class.

The Finance Minister said fluctuations in the rupee are influenced by imports of crude oil, fertilisers and gold, and noted that several global currencies have also faced pressure. She said the Prime Minister has urged citizens to consider reducing gold purchases and fuel consumption and to adopt natural farming to help conserve foreign exchange.

She added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the longest-serving elected Prime Minister of India, under whose leadership the country is moving towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.