Nirmala Sitharaman ends talks for Union Budget

Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concludes consultations for the Union Budget 2022-2023 after a conference with economists.

The finance ministry said over 120 invitees participated in the eight meetings to be held from December 15.

“Stakeholder groups include representatives and experts from the agriculture and agro-processing industry; Industry, infrastructure and climate change; financial sector and capital markets; services and trade; social sector; trade unions and labor organizations and economists,” it said.

The groups made several suggestions on various issues including increase in R&D expenditure and rationalization of income tax slabs.

Ms Sitharaman assured the participants that the suggestions would be carefully considered while preparing the budget, it added.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad, Finance Secretary TV Somanathan, DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth and Principal Economic Advisor Sanjeev Sanyal along with economists. Economists present included former chief economic advisor Nitin Desai and India’s executive director at the International Monetary Fund, Surjit Bhalla.

,