PM's support to AP demonstrated: PK

Budget empowers farmers, women & youth: CM

- USHA PERI @ Visakhapatnam

DEPUTY Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Pawan Kalyan has welcomed the Union Budget 2025-26 and termed it as pro-people, which is designed to lead India toward becoming a developed nation. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing invaluable encouragement to the State.

The country, under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, is moving forward with a clear vision for the inclusive development and 'Viksit Bharat Vision' aims to place India among the developed countries by 2047, and this budget is a key step toward that goal, he said.

Pawan praised Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a budget that prioritises the nation and its people over political considerations, ensuring the welfare and development of farmers, women, the middle class, and youth.

The budget includes significant measures like sanctioning credit cards worth ₹10 lakh to boost micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

It also provides loans of ₹2 crore to over five lakh SC and ST women entrepreneurs, promoting financial self-reliance among these groups. For salaried individuals, income tax exemption of up to ₹12 lakh has been introduced, a reform that Pawan Kalyan said would strengthen the middle class financially.