Union Budget 2022 live updates: Nirmala Sitharaman is reading out the BudgetNew Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2022 in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We strive to provide necessary ecosystem for middle class.

This Budget hopes to lay the foundation for Amrit Kal from India at 75 to India at 100," Ms Sitharaman said today.

This is also the sixth Budget session to be held since the outbreak of the pandemic in January 2020.

The key elements of the Union Budget 2022 that are being keenly watched include, among other things, individual income tax, Provident Fund, pensions and spending on healthcare, which has been one of the most active sectors due to rising medical claims.

Agriculture and farm subsidies - by their very fundamental effect on India's economic growth - and after the big controversy over the now-withdrawn three farm laws, are likely to get the maximum attention from the government.

The Union Budget 2022 also comes in a month when assembly elections will be held in five states.Get TheIndianSubcontinent UpdatesTurn on notifications to receive alerts as this story develops.Union Budget Live Updates 2022: Boost for digital paymentsDigital payments have grown at rapid pace.

Benefits of digital banking should reach every nook and corner.

Taking forward this agenda, we will set up 75 digital banking units in 75 districts by scheduled commercial banks.Union Budget Live Updates 2022: River linkingImplementation of Ken-Betwa rivers linking with estimated cost of Rs 44, 605 crore to be taken up.Union Budget Live Updates 2022: Northeast infraPM development initiative for the northeast to fund infra and social development projects.Union Budget 2022 Live Updates: For women and child development2 lakh Anganwadis to be upgraded with better facilitiesUnion Budget 2022 Live Updates: For start-upsDrone Shakti through various application centres for start-up that work on drone technology.Union Budget 2022 Live Updates: Resilient MSMECredit guarantee trust for micro and small enterprises will be revamped with required infusion of funds.

This will give Rs 2 lakh crore more for MSMEs.Union Budget 2022 Live Updates: Better farming"For better farming, we will provide comprehensive package with state government coordination": Nirmala SitharamanUnion Budget 2022 Live Updates: River water sharingDraft detailed project reports for five river water sharing projects have been finalized.

Once consensus is reached among states, centre will support them for implementation.Union Budget 2022 Live Updates: More infra development2,000 km under Kawach programme.

400 new generation Vande Bharat trains.

100 PM Gati Shakti cargo terminalsUnion Budget 2022 Live Updates: Minimum support price (MSP)Rs 2.7 lakh crore direct payment of minimum support price for wheat and paddyUnion Budget 2022 Live Updates: Infra developmentNational Highways to be expanded by 25,000 kmUnion Budget 2022 Live Updates: Engines of growthPM Gati Shakti, inclusive development, productivity enhancement, energy transmission, climate action and financing of investment.Union Budget 2022 Live Updates: Amrit Kal from India at 75 to India at 100"We strive to provide necessary ecosystem for middle class.

This Budget hopes to lay the foundation for Amrit Kal from India at 75 to India at 100," Ms Sitharaman said today.Union Budget 2022 Live Updates: On COVID-19 pandemic"We are confident of withstanding challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic": Nirmala SitharamanUnion Budget 2022 Live Updates: Nirmala Sitharaman starts Budget speechFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has started the Budget speech.Union Budget 2022 Live Updates: Union Cabinet approves BudgetBefore the actual presentation, the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Budget for the fiscal year 2022-23.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Union Ministers arrive in parliamentDefence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah; Railways, Communications and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and others arrive at parliament for the union cabinet meeting ahead of the Budget presentation.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: COVID-19 spendingIndia had started the world's largest COVID-19 inoculation programme on January 16, 2021.

The expenditure on vaccination this fiscal, as well as in the next would be the most-watched figures in the Budget.

The Budget estimate for vaccine expenditure for the current fiscal was Rs 35,000 crore.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Disinvestment and privatisation targetsThe government has rarely met the high disinvestment targets set in Budgets.

With a focus on privatisation and keeping in mind fiscal consolidation and capital expenditure, the number would be closely watched.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Budget amid pandemicFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would use the Union Budget as the cornerstone to put the economy on an accelerated growth path after the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: What it takes to reach $5 trillion economyWith a goal to reach a $5 trillion economy by fiscal 2025, capital expenditure allocation is expected to continue to remain higher while healthy tax revenues and mega disinvestment pipeline may help contain the fiscal deficit to 5 per cent in fiscal 2023.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: What's in store for NGOsSetting up a separate ministry and creating special scheme on digital literacy for the elderly are among the recommendations made by some NGOs for the upcoming budget.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Paperless budgetFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present Budget 2022 in a paperless format like last year.

She was seen this morning carrying a tablet encased in a red sleeve with the national emblem embossed on it.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Finance Minister arrives at parliament, watchUnion Budget 2020 Live Updates: Tax revenueThe government has budgeted a 9.5 per cent growth in tax collections at Rs 22.2 lakh crore for the 2021-22 fiscal (April-March, 2022).

With Economic Survey projecting a GDP growth of 8-8.5 per cent in the next fiscal, the buoyancy in tax revenue too would be closely watched.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Documents reach parliamentA truck loaded with Union Budget 2022 copies arrives at parliament.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Finance Minister meets PresidentFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with Ministers of State for Finance Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad and Pankaj Chaudhary, and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, called on President Ram Nath Kovind before presenting the Union Budget 2022.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: What farmers expectUnion Budget 2020 Live Updates: Growing risks of global inflationA government report on Tuesday warned that growing risks of global inflation led by rising crude oil prices could hit the economy, while projecting growth of 8% to 8.5% next fiscal year compared to 9.2% in current fiscal year and 6.6% contraction in the previous year.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: In the marketsSensex rises 582.85 points, currently at 58,597.02.

Nifty up by 156.20 points, currently at 17,496.05.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Strong revival in revenue receiptsThe strong revival in revenue receipts, which rose 67% during April-November period from a year earlier implied that the government has a "fiscal space to provide additional support if necessary", Sanjeev Sanyal, principal economic adviser at the Finance Ministry told.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: No bahi khataFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leaves from the Ministry of Finance's office.

She will present and read out the Union Budget 2022 at parliament through a tab, instead of the traditional 'bahi khata'.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: "Opposition should cooperate""PM Modi expects that every group - be it the ruling side or the opposition - should sit together and listen to the presenting of the Budget and cooperate": MoS Finance Bhagwat KaradUnion Budget 2020 Live Updates: Minister offers prayers at home ahead of Budget presentationMinister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad offers prayers at his home ahead of the Union Budget 2022 presentation in parliament today.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at Finance MinistryFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at the Ministry of Finance.

She will present the Union Budget in parliament at 11 am.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: No major changes in corporate and individual taxes?To attract investments that create jobs and spur growth, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman could also boost incentives tied to production in more industries.

Food processing and exports are two areas that could see more production-linked incentives, and no major budget changes were likely on individual and corporate taxes, in view of rising government debt and subdued private investments.Budget 2022 | Big Bang Spending, Election States Expected To Be Budget FocusFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2022 in the Parliament at 11am today.

Ms Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey yesterday, which was centred around the theme of 'agile approach'.Union Budget 2020 Live Updates: Inclusive Budget, says Union Minister"Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present an inclusive budget, in line with each and every sectors' needs.

It will benefit everyone...

All sectors (including farmers) should have expectations from today's budget": Minister of State for Finance Pankaj ChaudharyUnion Budget 2022: Relief for struggling consumersThe government looks unlikely to offer any major relief measures to struggling consumers, focusing instead on beefing up spending on transport and healthcare networks, which analysts estimate could rise between 12% and 25% in the next fiscal year.Union Budget 2022: What worries policymakersPolicymakers are worried that private consumption, which makes up nearly 55% of GDP, is still below pre-pandemic levels amid rising levels of household debt, while retail prices have increased by nearly 10% since the coronavirus outbreak began in early 2020.Union Budget 2022: More Spending On Roads, RailwaysFinance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to announce more spending on roads, railways, besides higher subsidies for affordable housing amid growing public criticism over inadequate relief following the economic disruption after the outbreak of pandemic in 2020.Union Budget 2022: Big Bang Spending, Election States Expected To Be Budget Focus: 10 PointsFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to raise spending on infrastructure when she presents her fourth budget today, but experts say fiscal constraints leave little chance of concessions for households hurting from the pandemic.Union Budget 2022: Briefcase To Bahi Khata To Tablet: A Look At The Journey Of Budget PresentationWhen Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her first Union Budget in 2019, she drew the nation's attention by replacing the budget briefcase with the "bahi khata".

The decision to opt for the bahi khata appeared to be a move to dump the colonial practice of carrying a briefcase.