Union Budget 2025 Takeaway: I-cards, registration on e-Shram portal for 1 crore gig workers: FM

Nirmala Sitharaman presented her historic eighth Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her record eighth Budget this year. After the Budget was presented in the Lok Sabha, the FM also presented the document in the Rajya Sabha.

The Union Budget 2025 is the second Budget presented under the Modi 3.0 government, the first having come after the Lok Sabha elections. Like the previous Budgets, this has kept in mind the government's goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Sitharaman on Saturday said the government will arrange identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal to assist 1 crore gig workers.

Presenting the Union Budget 2025-26, the finance minister also said a scheme for the socio-economic upliftment of urban workers will be implemented.

"...Gig workers of online platforms provide great dynamism to the 'New Age' services economy. Recognising their contribution, our government will arrange for their identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal," she said.

Such workers will be provided health care facilities under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and this measure is likely to assist nearly one crore workers, Sitharaman added.

In her presentation, the finance minister also said that by next year, 10,000 seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals while another 75,000 seats will be added in the next five years.

The government will also facilitate the setting up of daycare cancer centres in all district hospitals in the next three years.

Besides, the infrastructure ministries will come up with a 3-year pipeline of projects to be implemented in PPP (public-private partnership) mode, Sitharaman said.

Yesterday, FM Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey, which projects India's GDP to grow in the range of 6.3-6.8 per cent.

In the last Budget, presented in June after NDA won the Lok Sabha polls, FM proposed new income tax slabs -- up to Rs 3 lakh nil, Rs 3-7L 5 per cent, Rs 7-10L 10 per cent, Rs 10-12L 15 per cent, Rs 12-15L 20 per cent, above Rs 15L 30 per cent. Fiscal deficit was estimated at 4.9 per cent of GDP and Sitharaman had stated the government aimed to reach 4.5 per cent fiscal deficit in 2025-26.

(With PTI Inputs)

Union Budget 2025 | Nirmala Sitharaman, who continues to be Finance Minister, is presenting her record 8th Union Budget this time. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', reports suggest there might be a tax relief for those making up to Rs 15 lakh per year. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analysis only on Deccan Herald. Also follow us on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.