By News On Air Feb 10, 2025
The Rajya Sabha today took up the discussion on the General Budget 2025-26. Initiating the discussion, P. Chidambaram of Congress said the share of the country’s manufacturing in the GDP has fallen under the current regime. Mr Chidamabaram, while quoting the economic survey 2025, said in 2014, the share of manufacturing was 15.07 percent, but in 2019, it fell to 13.46 percent and to 12.93 percent in 2023. He alleged that both production-linked incentives and manufacturing are failures of the government.
He also alleged that the government has not given clear data on unemployment and said the unemployment among youth is over 10 percent and among graduates is over 13 percent. He added that, however, the government is claiming unemployment is only 3.2 percent. He also criticised the government over the issue of deportation of Indian nationals from the US.
Responding to the Congress members’ allegations, Leader of the House J P Nadda listed several measures taken up by the government in different sectors, including manufacturing. He clarified that the SOPs followed in the deportation of immigrants have been in practice since 2012 and provide for the use of restraints. Participating in the discussion, Dinesh Sharma of the BJP said this budget has special provisions for the empowerment of women and other marginalised sections of society.
Participating in the discussion, Tiruchi Shiva of DMK alleged that the Centre is not releasing its share for the centrally sponsored schemes due to the states. He also said the devolution of funds to the state is not based on rationality. He further criticised that the collection of direct taxes has come down and the government has not taken any measures to reduce the GST and reduce the prices of petroleum products for benefitting common people.
G. Babu Rao of the YSRCP said budgetary allocations under MGNREGP and PM Kissan remained the same, whereas such programs require higher allocations. He also said allocations made for women empowerment programs and for backward classes, SCs, and STs should be fully utilised and spent.
Speaking during the discussion, Debasish Samantharay of BJD demanded the Centre grant special status to Odisha state and increase the royalty on minerals, besides granting railway projects to the state.
Supporting the demand for more allocations to Tamil Nadu in the General Budget, Dr. M. Thambidurai of AIAMDK alleged that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu failed to implement several schemes, including housing.
Participating in the discussion, Milind Murli Deora of Shiv Sena commended the budget and said the country will progress under the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Jose K Mani of the KC (M) criticised the government for not granting AIIMS to Kerala and alleged that the Centre has failed to protect the interests of rubber farmers.
Ramji Lal Suman of SP and Birendr Prasad Baishya of AGP were among those who participated in the discussion. The discussion is underway.