The 2024 Union Budget of India was presented by Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on 23 July 2024. This was the first budget of Narendra Modi led NDA government's third term.
The Union Budget is the annual financial report of India; an estimate of income and expenditure of the government on a periodical basis. As per Article 112 of the Indian Constitution, it is a compulsory task of the government. The first budget of India was presented on 18 February 1860 by Scotsman James Wilson. The first Union Budget of Independent India was presented by R. K. Shanmukham Chetty on 26 November 1947.
The income tax (IT) slabs have been revised under the new income tax regime. The updated tax rates are as follows:
Standard deduction has been increased from 50,000 to 75,000. Ernst & Young estimates that, following standard tax deduction polices, income of upto 7.75 lakh is extempted from income tax after introduction of the increase in standard deduction.
The government has abolished the "angel tax," a levy that was introduced in the Finance Act of 2012. This tax applied to investments received by unlisted companies that exceeded the fair market value of their shares, often affecting start-ups and early-stage companies.
The capital gains tax structure has also undergone changes:
The government has proposed a reduction in the rate of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) for various types of payments. Specifically:
The Secretary of Revenue, Sanjay Malhotra said that the decrease in TDS is aimed at simplifying TDS compliance.
The total expenditure, encompassing both revenue and capital outlays, was distributed among various ministries. The Finance Ministry received the largest share at 38.5%, while the Defence Ministry held the second position with an allocation of 12.9%.