Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present interim budget today; time, where to watch

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim Budget 2024 today at 11 am. The finance minister said the centre is spending 4.41% of the GDP on education – one-fourth of it is coming from the union government and three-fourth from state governments.

The Indian economy is the fastest-growing major economy, as per the data of International Monetary Fund. As per the budget estimate, the government aims at maintaining a growth rate of over 7.5 percent for the next two consecutive quarters. The IMF has put the growth rate of Indian economy at 6.5%.

Union Budget 2024: Where to watch

The budget 2024 start time is 11 am. The budget speech 2024 will be hosted on the official X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts of the Ministry of Finance as well as the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

The official websites, Indiabudget.gov.in and budgetlive.nic.in will also host the Indian budget 2024 speech by the finance minister. Moreover, the speech can be watched on the Youtube channel of PIB.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his recent address, said “We will adhere to this tradition and present the full budget after the formation of the new government. This time, the country's Finance Minister, Nirmala Ji, will be presenting her budget tomorrow with some guiding points.”

“Today, the guidance provided by President Droupadi Murmu ji at the commencement of this budget session and the Interim Budget to be presented by Nirmala Sitharaman exemplify the power of women,” the prime minister added.

Also read Interim Budget vs Full Budget 2024: What and what not to expect on February 1

Finance Nirmala Sitharaman in a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event had said : “I am not going to play spoilsport, but it is a matter of truth that the February 1, 2024, Budget that will be announced will just be a vote on account because we will be in election mode, and elections will happen during the coming summer. So the Budget will just be to meet the expenditure till a new government comes. So no spectacular announcements are made at that time.”

Education sector’s wishlist

For the education budget 2024, experts and academics have been expecting the government to focus on integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in traditional learning methods.

Nealesh Dalal, founder of JD School of Design powered by JD Institute of Fashion Technology said, "The government must prioritize programmes that empower educators, equip them with the latest pedagogical approaches and cultivate a culture of continuous learning. There must be targeted initiatives to ensure every child possesses this fundamental skill. Recognition must be given to the potential of technology as a catalyst for progress. By spearheading research in critical domains like AI, robotics, and data analytics, we can ensure our next generation of students are equipped to navigate the complexities of the future. The government should allocate the highest proportion of GNP (Gross National Product) to the education sector and run full speed towards 6% GDP by pumping public investment and making education a top priority in the national budget."