Employment, agriculture productivity, manufacturing among nine priorities outlined by the government in the Union Budget

While presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, he said that the upcoming budgets would be based on these priorities.

Priorities include agriculture, employment and skills, and productivity and resilience in manufacturing and services

He said, “This Budget envisages sustained efforts on the following nine priorities to create adequate opportunities for all – productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment and skills, inclusive human resource development and social justice, manufacturing and services, urban development, energy security, infrastructure, innovation, research and development and next generation reforms. Upcoming Budgets will build on these and will include more priorities and actions.”

He said the government's focus on four key sectors – poor, women, youth, farmers – was highlighted in the interim budget presented in February this year.

He said, “We need to focus on the poor, women, youth and farmers. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was extended for five years, benefiting over 80 crore people. For farmers, the government announced higher minimum support prices for all major crops.”

Sitharaman said that Rs 1.48 lakh crore will be provided for education, employment and skills in the budget.

He said that strategies are being made to increase the production of pulses and oilseeds and achieve self-sufficiency

The minister said that in the next two years, one crore farmers across the country will be encouraged for natural farming, for which certification and branding will be done. Ten thousand need-based bio-input resource centers will be set up.

He said the completion of the Polavaram irrigation project would help ensure food security of the country.

The Minister also announced measures to promote the welfare of women and girls and development in the North-East region.

“Rs 3 lakh crore for schemes benefiting women and girls, over 100 branches of India Post Payments Bank to be set up in the Northeast region,” he said.