‘Our economy is fastest growing economy in the world’: Sitharaman in Union Budget 2025

While presenting the 2025-2026 Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that India is still the fastest-growing among all major economies in the world. On Saturday, Sitharaman tabled the budget in the parliament, laying out the vision of Modi Government 3.0. During her address, the finance minister emphasised that the budget will provide the pathway for India to be “Viksit Bharat” in the future. Sithraman created history as she presented her eighth consecutive budget, the highest presented by any Indian finance minister.

“Our economy is the fastest-growing among all major global economies. Our development track record of the past 10 years and structural reforms have drawn global attention,” Sitharaman said at the start of her address.

“Confidence in India’s capability and potential has only grown in this period. We see the next five years as a unique opportunity to realize ‘Sabka Vikas’, stimulating balanced growth of all regions,” she added. This was the first full budget of the NDA government after the alliance won a majority in the parliament for the third time.

“This Budget continues the government’s efforts to accelerate growth and secure inclusive development. It aims to invigorate private sector investments, uplift household sentiments and bolster the power of India’s rising middle class,” Sitharaman said in her initial remarks.

‘Viksit Bharat’ remains at the heart of the budget

While proposing the budget, Sitharaman said the government believes the next five years provide a unique opportunity to realise “Sabka Vikas” (development for all). She noted that India’s development track and structural reforms introduced in the past 10 years have drawn global attention.

In the budget, Sithraman introduced 10 broad measures which will ensure the development of four sections of the society, i.e. poor, youth, farmer and women. Keeping the ambition of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ in mind, Sitharaman proposed a Nuclear Energy Mission. The initiative aims to drive India’s transition towards clean energy.

She also noted that to facilitate greater participation of the private sector, amendments will be introduced in the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act. “Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat. Development of at least 100 GW of Nuclear energy by 2047 is essential for our energy transition. For active partnerships with the private sector towards this goal, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for the Nuclear Damage Act will be taken out…” she said.

Experts noted that the budget sets a clear path for India’s growing focus on “economic empowerment, industrial progress and societal well-being.”