New Delhi: In a landmark move, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the Union Budget 2025 on Saturday, announcing a new scheme aimed at boosting entrepreneurship among women and SC/ST communities. The initiative will provide loans of up to Rs 2 crore without the need for guarantees, available over the next five years. The scheme is expected to create 5 lakh new businesses, driving economic growth and empowering these marginalized groups.
This budget marks Sitharaman’s eighth presentation, including one interim and six regular budgets, and features several significant measures to support women and SC/ST individuals. Among them is the loan scheme designed to foster entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the budget, highlighting the new loan scheme as a vital step in empowering women and SC/ST entrepreneurs. “This initiative will enable these communities to establish their own businesses and become self-sustained,” he said, underscoring the government’s commitment to inclusive economic growth.
Additionally, the budget outlines provisions to support gig workers, including their registration on the e-Shram portal to ensure access to vital health services.
In another important announcement, Sitharaman introduced the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme, focusing on improving the nutritional health of 8 crore girls, 1 crore pregnant women, and 20 lakh adolescents. The initiative aims to combat malnutrition, particularly among pregnant women, while also modernizing Anganwadi centers to improve service delivery.
These comprehensive measures are poised to foster economic transformation, with a focus on empowering marginalized communities and promoting inclusive growth across India.
