Government cheers, Opposition jeers: Union Budget 2025 sparks debate

The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman along with the Ministers of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary as well as her Budget Team/senior officials of the Ministry of Finance arrived at the Parliament House to present the Union Budget 2025, in New Delhi on February 01, 2025.

The Union Budget 2025 has brought a major win for the middle class. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that no income tax will be payable on earnings up to ₹12 lakh under the new tax regime. She also stated that one crore more people will now be exempt from paying taxes.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Budget, calling it a “people’s budget.” He said it would boost growth and benefit the common man. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also praised the Budget. He called the hike in income tax slabs “unprecedented” and a positive step for the people.

The railway sector has received a record allocation of ₹2.52 lakh crore. Experts say this will improve infrastructure, safety, and connectivity. The government also introduced a new tax benefit under the NPS Vatsalya scheme. People will get tax relief of up to ₹50,000 under this initiative.

Several political leaders welcomed the Budget. Senior leader Praful Patel said the tax relief offers a “new direction” for the middle class. However, not everyone was pleased.

Opposition parties sharply criticised the Budget. TMC’s Kunal Ghosh called it “anti-people” and claimed it lacked real benefits. Congress also expressed disappointment. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the Budget had nothing for farmers or job creation.

Jairam Ramesh raised concerns about inequality. He called for urgent GST reforms to address the issue. Rahul Gandhi was also critical. He called the Budget a “gift to billionaires” and said it ignored the needs of the poor.

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram predicted economic stagnation. He said the economy would not grow beyond 6-6.5% in 2025-26. According to him, the Union Budget 2025 does little to drive growth.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Piyush Goyal defended the Budget. He accused the opposition of “jealousy” over the allocation of funds to Bihar. He said the government was committed to fair and balanced development across states.

As reactions pour in, the Budget remains a topic of debate. While the middle class celebrates tax relief, the opposition continues to raise concerns. The coming months will determine the real impact of these announcements on the economy and the people.