Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde praised Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a budget focused on bolstering India’s self-reliance and development. He highlighted the budget’s emphasis on enhancing infrastructure, providing incentives to MSMEs, and promoting the holistic development of smaller cities, which will benefit Mumbai and Maharashtra, the country’s growth engines.
Shinde commended the budget for its alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India. He emphasized the budget’s core objectives of economic growth, improving living standards, and inclusive development, noting India’s resilience amid global economic challenges.
The Deputy CM underscored the budget’s significance for Maharashtra, mentioning the creation of an Indian Institute of Creative Technology after last year’s global WAVES summit in Mumbai. He also highlighted the focus on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, the establishment of an infrastructure fund for urban areas, and financial support for Municipal Corporations through Municipal Bonds.
Shinde further outlined the budget’s provisions benefiting Maharashtra’s manufacturing sector, including allocations for the semiconductor and biopharma industries, technology incentives in textiles, handlooms, and handicrafts, and support for container production and data centers. He also noted the boost to railway infrastructure with the Mumbai-Pune and Pune-Hyderabad High-Speed Railway Corridors.
The Deputy CM lauded initiatives to enhance the fisheries sector, promote coconut and cashew production, empower women through entrepreneurship programs like “She-Mart,” and support female students with the construction of girls’ hostels in every district. He also highlighted the reduction in import duties on medicines for rare diseases and the upcoming implementation of the New Income Tax Regime from April 1, benefiting taxpayers of all scales.
