Budget 2021-2022 Speech Of Nirmala Sitharaman Minister Of Finance
1. Honourable Speaker, the preparation of this Budget was undertaken
in circumstances like never before. We knew of calamities that have
affected a country or a region within a country, but what we have endured
with COVID-19 through 2020 is sui generis.
2. When I presented the Budget 2020-21, we could not have imagined
that the global economy, already in throes of a slowdown, would be pushed
into an unprecedented contraction.
3. We could not have also imagined then that our people as those in
other countries would have to endure the loss of near and dear ones and
suffer hardships brought about due to a health crisis.
4. The risk of not having a lockdown was far too high. Within 48 hours
of declaring a three-week-long complete lockdown, the Prime Minister
announced the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, valued at `2.76 lakh
crores – this provided, free food grain to 800 million people, free cooking
gas for 80 million families for months, and cash directly to over 400 million
farmers, women, elderly, the poor and the needy.
2
5. Even as a large section of citizens stayed home, milk, vegetable, and
fruit-suppliers, health and sanitary workers, truck drivers, railways and
public transport workers, bank employees, electricity workers, our
annadatas, police, firemen, and the armed forces, all had to go about their
work as normal, but with the additional anxiety of the virus hanging over
them. We recognise this, and I think I speak on behalf of everybody in this
august House, when I express my heartfelt gratitude to these men and
women, for how they were able to carry out their work and duty, to provide
for the nation’s basics, over those crucial months.
6. Speaker Sir, for public good, Honourable Members of Parliament
and Members of Legislative Assemblies too offered their salaries.
7. In May 2020, the government announced the AtmaNirbhar Bharat
package (ANB 1.0). To sustain the recovery, further into the year, we also
rolled out two more AtmaNirbhar Bharat packages (ANB 2.0 and ANB 3.0).
Total financial impact of all AtmaNirbhar Bharat packages including
measures taken by RBI was estimated to about `27.1 lakh crores which
amounts to more than 13% of GDP.
8. As a government, we kept a watch on the situation and were
proactive in our responses. The government, led by the Prime Minister,
stretched its resources to deliver for most vulnerable sections of our society
– the poorest of the poor, the Dalits, Tribals, the elderly, the migrant
workers, and our children. The PMGKY, the three ANB packages, and
announcements made later were like five mini-budgets in themselves.
9. The AtmaNirbhar Packages accelerated our pace of structural
reforms. Redefinition of MSMEs, Commercialisation of the Mineral Sector,
Agriculture and Labour Reforms, Privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings,
One Nation One Ration Card, and Production Linked Incentive Schemes are
some of the notable reforms carried out during this period. Faceless
Income Tax Assessment, DBT and Financial Inclusion are the others.
10. Today, India has two vaccines available, and has begun medically
safeguarding not only her own citizens against COVID-19, but also those of
100 or more countries. It is added comfort to know that two or more
vaccines are also expected soon.
3
11. Honourable Prime Minister launched the vaccination drive by
crediting and thanking our scientists. We are ever grateful for the strength
and rigour of their efforts.
12. Having said that, we are all reminded time and again that our fight
against COVID-19 continues into 2021.
13. Now, just as it had happened after the two World Wars, there are
signs that the political, economic, and strategic relations in the post COVID
world are changing. This moment in history is the dawn of a new era – one
in which India is well-poised to truly be the land of promise and hope.
''Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark''.
-Rabindranath Tagore
(Fireflies – A Collection of Aphorisms)
14. In this spirit, I can’t help but recall the joy that we, as a cricket-loving
nation, felt after Team India’s recent spectacular success in Australia. It has
reminded us of all the qualities that we as a people, particularly our youth,
epitomise of having abundant promise and the unsuppressed thirst to
perform and succeed.
15. Today, data shows that India now has one of the lowest death rate
of 112 per million population and one of the lowest active cases of about
130 per million. This has laid the foundation to the revival we are seeing
now in the economy.
16. This Budget will be the first of this new decade. This Budget will also
be a digital Budget and that has happened with all your support.
17. So far, only three times has a Budget followed a contraction in the
economy. All such contractions were as a result of situations typical to
India. This time, the contraction in our economy is due to a global
pandemic, just like in several other countries.
18. Having said that, I want to confidently state that our Government is
fully prepared to support and facilitate the economy’s reset. This Budget
provides every opportunity for our economy to raise and capture the pace
that it needs for sustainable growth.
19. 2021 is the year of many important milestones for our history. I
mention a few of these: It is the 75th year of Independence; 60 years of
Goa’s accession to India; 50 years of the 1971 India-Pakistan War; it will be
4
the year of the 8th Census of Independent India; it will also be India’s turn
at the BRICS Presidency; the year for our Chandrayaan-3 Mission; and the
Haridwar Maha Kumbh.
20. Honourable Speaker, before I commence Part A of the Budget, I
want to take a moment to acknowledge how isolating and distancing
seemed like insurmountable challenges for a country like ours that has
people coming together in times of crises. It hurt us in many ways. I bow my
head in respect to every citizen, for the endurance shown in facing what
was an undeniably a tough year for all our physical and mental well-being.
PART A
21. In Part A, I wish to lay a vision for AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
22. AtmaNirbharta is not a new idea. Ancient India was largely selfreliant, and equally, a business epicentre of the world.
23. AtmaNirbhar Bharat is an expression of 130 crores Indians who have
full confidence in their capabilities and skills.
24. We are already part of International groupings such as the G20 and
BRICS. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the
International Solar alliance are realities today due to India’s efforts.
25. The proposals in Part A will further strengthen the sankalp of Nation
First, Doubling Farmer’s Income, Strong Infrastructure, Healthy India, Good
Governance, Opportunities for Youth, Education for All, Women
Empowerment, and Inclusive Development, among others.
26. Additionally, also on the path to fast-implementation are the 13
promises we had made in the Budget of 2015-16 which were to materialise
during the Amrut Mahotsav of 2022, on the 75th year of our Independence.
They too resonate with this vision of AtmaNirbharta.
27. The Budget proposals for 2021-2022 rest on 6 pillars.
i. Health and Wellbeing
ii. Physical & Financial Capital, and Infrastructure
5
iii. Inclusive Development for Aspirational India
iv. Reinvigorating Human Capital
v. Innovation and R&D
vi. Minimum Government and Maximum Governance
1. Health and Wellbeing
28. Even at the outset, I would like to say that the investment on Health
Infrastructure in this Budget has increased substantially. Progressively, as
institutions absorb more, we shall commit more.
29. Taking a holistic approach to Health, we focus on strengthening
three areas: Preventive, Curative, and Wellbeing.
Health Systems
30. A new centrally sponsored scheme, PM AtmaNirbhar Swasth Bharat
Yojana, will be launched with an outlay of about ` 64,180 crores over 6
years. This will develop capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary care
Health Systems, strengthen existing national institutions, and create new
institutions, to cater to detection and cure of new and emerging diseases.
This will be in addition to the National Health Mission. The main
interventions under the scheme are:
a. Support for 17,788 rural and 11,024 urban Health and Wellness
Centers
b. Setting up integrated public health labs in all districts and 3382 block
public health units in 11 states;
c. Establishing critical care hospital blocks in 602 districts and 12
central institutions;
d. Strengthening of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), its
5 regional branches and 20 metropolitan health surveillance units;
e. Expansion of the Integrated Health Information Portal to all
States/UTs to connect all public health labs;
f. Operationalisation of 17 new Public Health Units and strengthening
of 33 existing Public Health Units at Points of Entry, that is at 32
Airports, 11 Seaports and 7 land crossings;
g. Setting up of 15 Health Emergency Operation Centers and 2 mobile
hospitals; and
6
h. Setting up of a national institution for One Health, a Regional
Research Platform for WHO South East Asia Region, 9 Bio-Safety
Level III laboratories and 4 regional National Institutes for Virology.
Nutrition
31. To strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcome,
we will merge the Supplementary Nutrition Programme and the Poshan
Abhiyan and launch the Mission Poshan 2.0. We shall adopt an intensified
strategy to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 Aspirational Districts.
Universal Coverage of Water Supply
32. The World Health Organisation has repeatedly stressed the
importance of clean water, sanitation, and clean environment, as a pre
requisite to achieving universal health.
33. The Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban), will be launched. It aims at universal
water supply in all 4,378 Urban Local Bodies with 2.86 crores household tap
connections, as well as liquid waste management in 500 AMRUT cities. It
will be implemented over 5 years, with an outlay of `2,87,000 crores.
Swachch Bharat, Swasth Bharat
34. For further swachhta of urban India, we intend to focus on complete
faecal sludge management and waste water treatment, source segregation
of garbage, reduction in single-use plastic, reduction in air pollution by
effectively managing waste from construction-and-demolition activities and
bio-remediation of all legacy dump sites. The Urban Swachh Bharat Mission
2.0 will be implemented with a total financial allocation of `1,41,678 crores
over a period of 5 years from 2021-2026.
Clean Air
35. To tackle the burgeoning problem of air pollution, I propose to
provide an amount of `2,217 crores for 42 urban centres with a million-plus
population in this budget.
7
Scrapping Policy
36. We are separately announcing a voluntary vehicle scrapping policy,
to phase out old and unfit vehicles. This will help in encouraging fuelefficient, environment friendly vehicles, thereby reducing vehicular
pollution and oil import bill. Vehicles would undergo fitness tests in
automated fitness centres after 20 years in case of personal vehicles, and
after 15 years in case of commercial vehicles. Details of the scheme will be
separately shared by the Ministry.
Vaccines
37. The Pneumococcal Vaccine, a Made in India product, is presently
limited to only 5 states will be rolled out across the country. This will avert
more than 50,000 child deaths annually.
38. I have provided `35,000 crores for Covid-19 vaccine in BE 2021-22. I
am committed to provide further funds if required.
39. The Budget outlay for Health and Wellbeing is `2,23,846 crores in BE
2021-22 as against this year’s BE of `94,452 crores an increase of 137
percentage. The details of the same are at Annexure I of the Speech.
2. Physical and Financial Capital and Infrastructure
AtmaNirbhar Bharat – Production Linked Incentive scheme (PLI)
40. For a USD 5 trillion economy, our manufacturing sector has to grow
in double digits on a sustained basis. Our manufacturing companies need to
become an integral part of global supply chains, possess core competence
and cutting-edge technology. To achieve all of the above, PLI schemes to
create manufacturing global champions for an AtmaNirbhar Bharat have
been announced for 13 sectors. For this, the government has committed
nearly `1.97 lakh crores, over 5 years starting FY 2021-22. This initiative will
help bring scale and size in key sectors, create and nurture global
champions and provide jobs to our youth.
8
Textiles
41. To enable the textile industry to become globally competitive,
attract large investments and boost employment generation, a scheme of
Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA) will be launched in addition to the
PLI scheme. This will create world class infrastructure with plug and play
facilities to enable create global champions in exports. 7 Textile Parks will
be established over 3 years.
Infrastructure
42. The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) which I announced in
December 2019 is the first-of-its-kind, whole-of-government exercise ever
undertaken by Government of India. The NIP was launched with 6835
projects; the project pipeline has now expanded to 7,400 projects. Around
217 projects worth `1.10 lakh crores under some key infrastructure
Ministries have been completed.
43. The NIP is a specific target which this government is committed to
achieving over the coming years. It will require a major increase in funding
both from the government and the financial sector. In this Budget, I
propose to take concrete steps to do this, in three ways:
44. Firstly, by creating the institutional structures; secondly, by a big
thrust on monetizing assets, and thirdly by enhancing the share of capital
expenditure in central and state budgets.
Infrastructure financing - Development Financial Institution (DFI)
45. Infrastructure needs long term debt financing. A professionally
managed Development Financial Institution is necessary to act as a
provider, enabler and catalyst for infrastructure financing. Accordingly, I
shall introduce a Bill to set up a DFI. I have provided a sum of `20,000 crores
to capitalise this institution. The ambition is to have a lending portfolio of at
least `5 lakh crores for this DFI in three years time.
9
46. Debt Financing of InVITs and REITs by Foreign Portfolio Investors will
be enabled by making suitable amendments in the relevant legislations. This
will further ease access of finance to InVITS and REITs thus augmenting
funds for infrastructure and real estate sectors.
Asset Monetisation
47. Monetizing operating public infrastructure assets is a very important
financing option for new infrastructure construction. A “National
Monetization Pipeline” of potential brownfield infrastructure assets will be
launched. An Asset Monetization dashboard will also be created for
tracking the progress and to provide visibility to investors. Some important
measures in the direction of monetisation are:
a. National Highways Authority of India and PGCIL each have
sponsored one InvIT that will attract international and domestic
institutional investors. Five operational roads with an estimated
enterprise value of ` 5,000 crores are being transferred to the NHAI
InvIT. Similarily, transmission assets of a value of `7,000 crores will
be transferred to the PGCIL InvIT.
b. Railways will monetise Dedicated Freight Corridor assets for
operations and maintenance, after commissioning.
c. The next lot of Airports will be monetised for operations and
management concession.
d. Other core infrastructure assets that will be rolled out under the
Asset Monetization Programme are: (i) NHAI Operational Toll Roads
(ii) Transmission Assets of PGCIL (iii) Oil and Gas Pipelines of GAIL,
IOCL and HPCL (iv) AAI Airports in Tier II and III cities, (v) Other
Railway Infrastructure Assets (vi) Warehousing Assets of CPSEs such
as Central Warehousing Corporation and NAFED among others and
(vii) Sports Stadiums.
Sharp Increase in Capital Budget
48. In the BE 2020-21, we had provided `4.12 lakh crores for Capital
Expenditure. It was our effort that in spite of resource crunch we should
spend more on capital and we are likely to end the year at around `4.39
10
lakh crores which I have provided in the RE 2020-21. For 2021-22, I propose
a sharp increase in capital expenditure and thus have provided `5.54 lakh
crores which is 34.5% more than the BE of 2020-21. Of this, I have kept a
sum of more than `44,000 crores in the Budget head of the Department of
Economic Affairs to be provided for projects/programmes/departments
that show good progress on Capital Expenditure and are in need of further
funds. Over and above this expenditure, we would also be providing more
than `2 lakh crores to States and Autonomous Bodies for their Capital
Expenditure.
49. We will also work out specific mechanisms to nudge States to spend
more of their budget on creation of infrastructure.
Roads and Highways Infrastructure
50. More than 13,000 km length of roads, at a cost of `3.3 lakh crores,
has already been awarded under the `5.35 lakh crores Bharatmala
Pariyojana project of which 3,800 kms have been constructed. By March
2022, we would be awarding another 8,500 kms and complete an additional
11,000 kms of national highway corridors.
51. To further augment road infrastructure, more economic corridors
are also being planned. Some are:
a. 3,500 km of National Highway works in the state of Tamil Nadu at an
investment of `1.03 lakh crores. These include Madurai-Kollam
corridor, Chittoor-Thatchur corridor. Construction will start next
year.
b. 1,100 km of National Highway works in the State of Kerala at an
investment of `65,000 crores including 600 km section of MumbaiKanyakumari corridor in Kerala.
c. 675 km of highway works in the state of West Bengal at a cost of
`25,000 crores including upgradation of existing road-Kolkata –
Siliguri.
d. National Highway works of around `19,000 crores are currently in
progress in the State of Assam. Further works of more than `34,000
11
crores covering more than 1300 kms of National Highways will be
undertaken in the State in the coming three years.
52. Some of the flagship corridors and other important projects that
would see considerable activity in 2021-22 are in Annexure-II.
53. I am also providing an enhanced outlay of `1,18,101 lakh crores for
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, of which `1,08,230 crores is for
capital, the highest ever.
Railway Infrastructure
54. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan for India – 2030.
The Plan is to create a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030.
55. Bringing down the logistic costs for our industry is at the core of our
strategy to enable ‘Make in India’. It is expected that Western Dedicated
Freight Corridor (DFC) and Eastern DFC will be commissioned by June 2022.
The following additional initiatives are proposed:
a. The Sonnagar – Gomoh Section (263.7 km) of Eastern DFC will be
taken up in PPP mode in 2021-22. Gomoh-Dankuni section of 274.3
km will also be taken up in short succession.
b. We will undertake future dedicated freight corridor projects namely
East Coast corridor from Kharagpur to Vijayawada, East-West
Corridor from Bhusaval to Kharagpur to Dankuni and North-South
corridor from Itarsi to Vijayawada. Detailed Project Reports will be
undertaken in the first phase.
c. Broad Gauge Route Kilometers (RKM) electrified is expected to reach
46,000 RKM i.e., 72% by end of 2021 from 41,548 RKM on 1st Oct
2020. 100% electrification of Broad-Gauge routes will be completed
by December, 2023.
56. For Passenger convenience and safety the following measures are
proposed:
12
a. We will introduce the aesthetically designed Vista Dome LHB coach
on tourist routes to give a better travel experience to passengers.
b. The safety measures undertaken in the past few years have borne
results. To further strengthen this effort, high density network and
highly utilized network routes of Indian railways will be provided
with an indigenously developed automatic train protection system
that eliminates train collision due to human error.
c. I am providing a record sum of `1,10,055 crores, for Railways of
which `1,07,100 crores is for capital expenditure.
Urban Infrastructure
57. We will work towards raising the share of public transport in urban
areas through expansion of metro rail network and augmentation of city bus
service. A new scheme will be launched at a cost of `18,000 crores to
support augmentation of public bus transport services. The scheme will
facilitate deployment of innovative PPP models to enable private sector
players to finance, acquire, operate and maintain over 20,000 buses. The
scheme will boost the automobile sector, provide fillip to economic growth,
create employment opportunities for our youth and enhance ease of
mobility for urban residents.
58. A total of 702 km of conventional metro is operational and another
1,016 km of metro and RRTS is under construction in 27 cities. Two new
technologies i.e., ‘MetroLite’ and ‘MetroNeo’ will be deployed to provide
metro rail systems at much lesser cost with same experience, convenience
and safety in Tier-2 cities and peripheral areas of Tier-1 cities.
59. Central counterpart funding will be provided to:
a. Kochi Metro Railway Phase-II of 11.5 km at a cost of `1957.05 crores.
b. Chennai Metro Railway Phase-II of 118.9 km at a cost of `63,246
crores.
c. Bengaluru Metro Railway Project Phase 2A and 2B of 58.19 km at a
cost of `14,788 crores.
d. Nagpur Metro Rail Project Phase-II and Nashik Metro at a cost of
`5,976 crores and `2,092 crores respectively.
13
Power Infrastructure
60. The past 6 years have seen a number of reforms and achievements
in the power sector. We have added 139 Giga Watts of installed capacity,
connected an additional 2.8 crores households and added 1.41 lakh circuit
km of transmission lines.
61. The distribution companies across the country are monopolies,
either government or private. There is a need to provide choice to
consumers by promoting competition. A framework will be put in place to
give consumers alternatives to choose from among more than one
Distribution Company.
62. The viability of Distribution Companies is a serious concern. A
revamped reforms-based result-linked power distribution sector scheme
will be launched with an outlay of `3,05,984 crores over 5 years. The
scheme will provide assistance to DISCOMS for Infrastructure creation
including pre-paid smart metering and feeder separation, upgradation of
systems, etc., tied to financial improvements.
63. Prime Minister, while speaking at the 3rd Re-inVest Conference in
November 2020, had announced plans to launch a comprehensive National
Hydrogen Energy Mission. It is now proposed to launch a Hydrogen Energy
Mission in 2021-22 for generating hydrogen from green power sources.
Ports, Shipping, Waterways
64. Major Ports will be moving from managing their operational services
on their own to a model where a private partner will manage it for them.
For the purpose, 7 projects worth more than `2,000 crores will be offered
by the Major Ports on Public Private Partnership mode in FY21-22.
65. A scheme to promote flagging of merchant ships in India will be
launched by providing subsidy support to Indian shipping companies in
global tenders floated by Ministries and CPSEs. An amount of `1624 crores
will be provided over 5 years. This initiative will enable greater training and
14
employment opportunities for Indian seafarers besides enhancing Indian
companies share in global shipping.
66. India has enacted Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 and acceded to the
Hong Kong International Convention. Around 90 ship recycling yards at
Alang in Gujarat have already achieved HKC-compliant certificates. Efforts
will be made to bring more ships to India from Europe and Japan. Recycling
capacity of around 4.5 Million Light Displacement Tonne (LDT) will be
doubled by 2024. This is expected to generate an additional 1.5 lakh jobs for
our youth.
Petroleum & Natural Gas
67. Our government has kept fuel supplies running across the country
without interruption during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Taking note of
the crucial nature of this sector in people’s lives, the following key initiatives
are being announced:
a. Ujjwala Scheme which has benefited 8 crores households will be
extended to cover 1 crores more beneficiaries.
b. We will add 100 more districts in next 3 years to the City Gas
Distribution network.
c. A gas pipeline project will be taken up in Union Territory of Jammu &
Kashmir.
d. An independent Gas Transport System Operator will be set up for
facilitation and coordination of booking of common carrier capacity
in all-natural gas pipelines on a non-discriminatory open access
basis.
Financial Capital
68. I propose to consolidate the provisions of SEBI Act, 1992,
Depositories Act, 1996, Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 and
Government Securities Act, 2007 into a rationalized single Securities
Markets Code.
15
69. The Government would support the development of a world class
Fin-Tech hub at the GIFT-IFSC.
70. To instill confidence amongst the participants in the Corporate Bond
Market during times of stress and to generally enhance secondary market
liquidity, it is proposed to create a permanent institutional framework. The
proposed body would purchase investment grade debt securities both in
stressed and normal times and help in the development of the Bond
market.
71. In the budget of 2018-19, Government had announced its intent to
establish a system of regulated gold exchanges in the country. For the
purpose, SEBI will be notified as the regulator and Warehousing
Development and Regulatory Authority will be strengthened to set up a
commodity market eco system arrangement including vaulting, assaying,
logistics etc in addition to warehousing.
72. Towards investor protection, I propose to introduce an investor
charter as a right of all financial investors across all financial products.
73. To give a further boost to the non-conventional energy sector, I
propose to provide additional capital infusion of `1,000 crores to Solar
Energy Corporation of India and `1,500 crores to Indian Renewable Energy
Development Agency.
Increasing FDI in Insurance Sector
74. I propose to amend the Insurance Act, 1938 to increase the
permissible FDI limit from 49% to 74% in Insurance Companies and allow
foreign ownership and control with safeguards. Under the new structure,
the majority of Directors on the Board and key management persons would
be resident Indians, with at least 50% of Directors being Independent
Directors, and specified percentage of profits being retained as general
reserve.
Stressed Asset Resolution by setting up a New Structure
75. The high level of provisioning by public sector banks of their stressed
assets calls for measures to clean up the bank books. An Asset
16
Reconstruction Company Limited and Asset Management Company would
be set up to consolidate and take over the existing stressed debt and then
manage and dispose of the assets to Alternate Investment Funds and other
potential investors for eventual value realization.
Recapitalization of PSBs
76. To further consolidate the financial capacity of PSBs, further
recapitalization of `20,000 crores is proposed in 2021-22.
Deposit Insurance
77. Last year, Government had approved an increase in the Deposit
Insurance cover from `1 lakh to `5 lakhs for bank customers. I shall be
moving amendments to the DICGC Act, 1961 in this Session itself to
streamline the provisions, so that if a bank is temporarily unable to fulfil its
obligations, the depositors of such a bank can get easy and time-bound
access to their deposits to the extent of the deposit insurance cover. This
would help depositors of banks that are currently under stress.
78. To improve credit discipline while continuing to protect the interest
of small borrowers, for NBFCs with minimum asset size of `100 crores, the
minimum loan size eligible for debt recovery under the Securitisation and
Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest
(SARFAESI) Act, 2002 is proposed to be reduced from the existing level of
`50 lakhs to `20 lakhs.
Company Matters
79. The decriminalizing of the procedural and technical compoundable
offences under the Companies Act, 2013, is now complete. I now propose
to next take up decriminalization of the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
Act, 2008.
80. Sir, I propose to revise the definition under the Companies Act, 2013
for Small Companies by increasing their thresholds for Paid up capital from
“not exceeding `50 Lakh” to “not exceeding `2 Crore” and turnover from
“not exceeding `2 Crore” to “not exceeding `20 Crore”. This will benefit
17
more than two lakh companies in easing their compliance requirements.
81. As a further measure which directly benefits Start-ups and
Innovators, I propose to incentivize the incorporation of One Person
Companies (OPCs) by allowing OPCs to grow without any restrictions on
paid up capital and turnover, allowing their conversion into any other type
of company at any time, reducing the residency limit for an Indian citizen to
set up an OPC from 182 days to 120 days and also allow Non Resident
Indians (NRIs) to incorporate OPCs in India.
82. To ensure faster resolution of cases, NCLT framework will be
strengthened, e-Courts system shall be implemented and alternate
methods of debt resolution and special framework for MSMEs shall be
introduced.
83. During the coming fiscal 2021-22, we will be launching data
analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning driven MCA21 Version 3.0.
This Version 3.0 will have additional modules for e-scrutiny, e-Adjudication,
e-Consultation and Compliance Management.
Disinvestment and Strategic Sale
84. In spite of COVID-19, we have kept working towards strategic
disinvestment. A number of transactions namely BPCL, Air India, Shipping
Corporation of India, Container Corporation of India, IDBI Bank, BEML,
Pawan Hans, Neelachal Ispat Nigam limited among others would be
completed in 2021-22. Other than IDBI Bank, we propose to take up the
privatization of two Public Sector Banks and one General Insurance
company in the year 2021-22. This would require legislative amendments
and I propose to introduce the amendments in this Session itself.
85. In 2021-22 we would also bring the IPO of LIC for which I am
bringing the requisite amendments in this Session itself.
86. In the AtmaNirbhar Package, I had announced that we will come out
with a policy of strategic disinvestment of public sector enterprises. I am
happy to inform the House that the Government has approved the said
policy. The policy provides a clear roadmap for disinvestment in all nonstrategic and strategic sectors. We have kept four areas that are strategic
18
where bare minimum CPSEs will be maintained and rest privatized. In the
remaining sectors all CPSEs will be privatized. The main highlights of the
policy are mentioned at Annexure-III.
87. To fast forward the disinvestment policy, I am asking NITI to work
out on the next list of Central Public Sector companies that would be taken
up for strategic disinvestment.
88. To similarly incentivise States to take to disinvestment of their Public
Sector Companies, we will work out an incentive package of Central Funds
for States.
89. Idle assets will not contribute to AtmaNirbhar Bharat. The non-core
assets largely consist of surplus land with government
Ministries/Departments and Public Sector Enterprises. Monetizing of land
can either be by way of direct sale or concession or by similar means. This
requires special abilities and for this purpose, I propose to use a Special
Purpose Vehicle in the form of a company that would carry out this activity.
90. In order to ensure timely completion of closure of sick or loss
making CPSEs, we will introduce a revised mechanism that will ensure
timely closure of such units.
91. I have estimated ` 1,75,000 crores as receipts from disinvestment in
BE 2021-22.
Government Financial Reforms
92. Under the Treasury Single Account (TSA) System autonomous bodies
directly draw funds from the Government’s account at the time of actual
expenditure, saving interest costs. We will extend the TSA System for
universal application from 2021-22.
93. On the recommendation of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, we
have undertaken a detailed exercise to rationalise and bring down the
number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes. This will enable consolidation of
outlays for better impact.
19
94. The Government is committed to the development of Multi-State
Cooperatives and will provide all support to them. To further streamline the
‘Ease of Doing Business’ for Cooperatives, I propose to set up a separate
Administrative Structure for them.
3. Inclusive Development for Aspirational India
95. Honourable Speaker Sir, under this pillar, I will cover Agriculture and
Allied sectors, farmers’ welfare and rural India, migrant workers and labour,
and financial inclusion.
Agriculture
96. Our Government is committed to the welfare of farmers. The MSP
regime has undergone a sea change to assure price that is at least 1.5 times
the cost of production across all commodities. The procurement has also
continued to increase at a steady pace. This has resulted in increase in
payment to farmers substantially.
97. In case of wheat, the total amount paid to farmers in 2013-2014 was
`33,874 crores. In 2019-2020 it was `62,802 crores, and even better, in
2020-2021, this amount, paid to farmers, was `75,060 crores. The number
of wheat growing farmers that were benefitted increased in 2020-21 to
43.36 lakhs as compared to 35.57 lakhs in 2019-20.
98. For paddy, the amount paid in 2013-14 was `63,928 crores. In 2019-
2020 this increased `1,41,930 crores. Even better, in 2020-2021, this is
further estimated to increase to `172,752 crores. The number of farmers
benefitted increased from 1.24 crores in 2019-20 to 1.54 crores in 2020-21.
99. In the same vein, in case of pulses, the amount paid in 2013-2014
was `236 crores. In 2019-20 it increased `8,285 crores. Now, in 2020-2021,
it is at `10,530 crores, a more than 40 times increase from 2013-14.
100. The receipts to cotton farmers have seen a stupendous increase
from `90 crores in 2013-14 to `25,974 crores (as on 27th January 2021).
The details are in Annexure IV.
20
101. Early this year, Honourable Prime Minister had launched SWAMITVA
Scheme. Under this, a record of rights is being given to property owners in
villages. Up till now, about 1.80 lakh property-owners in 1,241 villages have
been provided cards. I now propose during FY21-22 to extend this to cover
all states/UTs.
102. To provide adequate credit to our farmers, I have enhanced the
agricultural credit target to `16.5 lakh crores in FY22. We will focus on
ensuring increased credit flows to animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries.
103. We are enhancing the allocation to the Rural Infrastructure
Development Fund from `30,000 crores to `40,000 crores.
104. The Micro Irrigation Fund, with a corpus of `5,000 crores has been
created under NABARD, I propose to double it by augmenting it by another
`5,000 crores.
105. To boost value addition in agriculture and allied products and their
exports, the scope of ‘Operation Green Scheme’ that is presently applicable
to tomatoes, onions, and potatoes, will be enlarged to include 22 perishable
products.
106. Around 1.68 crores farmers are registered and ` 1.14 lakh crores of
trade value has been carried out through e-NAMs. Keeping in view the
transparency and competitiveness that e-NAM has brought into the
agricultural market, 1,000 more mandis will be integrated with e-NAM.
107. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund would be made available to
APMCs for augmenting their infrastructure facilities.
Fisheries
108. I am proposing substantial investments in the development of
modern fishing harbours and fish landing centres. To start with, 5 major
fishing harbours – Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, and Petuaghat –
will be developed as hubs of economic activity. We will also develop inland
fishing harbours and fish-landing centres along the banks of rivers and
waterways.
21
109. Seaweed farming is an emerging sector with potential to transform
the lives of coastal communities. It will provide large scale employment and
additional incomes. To promote seaweed cultivation, I propose a
Multipurpose Seaweed Park to be established in Tamil Nadu.
Migrant Workers and Labourers
110. We have launched the One Nation One Ration Card scheme through
which beneficiaries can claim their rations anywhere in the country.
Migrant workers in particular benefit from this scheme – those staying away
from their families can partially claim their ration where they are stationed,
while their family, in their native places, can claim the rest. I am happy to
inform you that One Nation One Ration Card plan is under implementation
by 32 states and UTs, reaching about 69 crores beneficiaries – that’s a total
of 86% beneficiaries covered. The remaining 4 states and UTs will be
integrated in the next few months.
111. To further extend our efforts towards the unorganised labour force
migrant workers particularly, I propose to launch a portal that will collect
relevant information on gig, building, and construction-workers among
others. This will help formulate Health, Housing, Skill, Insurance, Credit, and
food schemes for migrant workers.
112. We will conclude a process that began 20 years ago, with the
implementation of the 4 labour codes. For the first time globally, social
security benefits will extend to gig and platform workers. Minimum wages
will apply to all categories of workers, and they will all be covered by the
Employees State Insurance Corporation. Women will be allowed to work in
all categories and also in the night-shifts with adequate protection. At the
same time, compliance burden on employers will be reduced with single
registration and licensing, and online returns.
Financial Inclusion
113. To further facilitate credit flow under the scheme of Stand Up India
for SCs, STs, and women, I propose to reduce the margin money
requirement from 25% to 15%, and to also include loans for activities allied
to agriculture.
22
114. We have taken a number of steps to support the MSME sector. In
this Budget, I have provided `15,700 crores to this sector, more than double
of this year’s BE.
4. Reinvigorating Human Capital
115. The National Education Policy (NEP) announced recently has had
good reception.
School Education
116. More than 15,000 schools will be qualitatively strengthened to
include all components of the National Education Policy. They shall emerge
as exemplar schools in their regions, handholding and mentoring other
schools to achieve the ideals of the Policy.
117. 100 new Sainik Schools will be set up in partnership with NGOs/
private schools/states.
Higher Education
118. In Budget 2019-20, I had mentioned about the setting-up of Higher
Education Commission of India. We would be introducing Legislation this
year to implement the same. It will be an umbrella body having 4 separate
vehicles for standard-setting, accreditation, regulation, and funding.
119. Many of our cities have various research institutions, universities,
and colleges supported by the Government of India. Hyderabad for
example, has about 40 such major institutions. In 9 such cities, we will
create formal umbrella structures so that these institutions can have better
synergy, while also retaining their internal autonomy. A Glue Grant will be
set aside for this purpose.
120. For accessible higher education in Ladakh, I propose to set up a
Central University in Leh.
121. The other important projects to be taken up as part of NEP are listed
at Annexure V.
23
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare
122. We have set ourselves a target of establishing 750 Eklavya model
residential schools in our tribal areas. I propose to increase the unit cost of
each such school from `20 crores to `38 crores, and for hilly and difficult
areas, to `48 crores. This would help in creating robust infrastructure
facilities for our tribal students.
123. We have revamped the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme, for the
welfare of Scheduled Castes. I have also enhanced the Central Assistance in
this regard. We are allotting ` 35,219 crores for 6 years till 2025-2026, to
benefit 4 crores SC students.
Skilling
124. In 2016, we had launched the National Apprenticeship Promotion
Scheme. The Government proposes to amend the Apprenticeship Act with a
view to further enhancing apprenticeship opportunities for our youth. We
will realign the existing scheme of National Apprenticeship Training Scheme
(NATS) for providing post-education apprenticeship, training of graduates
and diploma holders in Engineering. Over `3,000 crores will be provided for
this.
125. An initiative is underway, in partnership with the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), to benchmark skill qualifications, assessment, and
certification, accompanied by the deployment of certified workforce. We
also have a collaborative Training Inter Training Programme (TITP) between
India and Japan to facilitate transfer of Japanese industrial and vocational
skills, technique, and knowledge. We will take forward this initiative with
many more countries.
5. Innovation and R&D
126. In my Budget Speech of July 2019, I had announced the National
Research Foundation. We have now worked out the modalities and the NRF
outlay will be of `50,000 crores, over 5 years. It will ensure that the overall
24
research ecosystem of the country is strengthened with focus on identified
national-priority thrust areas.
127. There has been a manifold increase in digital payments in the recent
past. To give a further boost to digital transactions, I earmark `1,500 crores
for a proposed scheme that will provide financial incentive to promote
digital modes of payment.
128. We will undertake a new initiative – National Language Translation
Mission (NTLM). This will enable the wealth of governance-and-policy
related knowledge on the Internet being made available in major Indian
languages.
129. The New Space India Limited (NSIL), a PSU under the Department of
Space will execute the PSLV-CS51 launch, carrying the Amazonia Satellite
from Brazil, along with a few smaller Indian satellites.
130. As part of the Gaganyaan mission activities, four Indian astronauts
are being trained on Generic Space Flight aspects, in Russia. The first
unmanned launch is slated for December 2021.
131. Our oceans are a storehouse of living and non-living resources. To
better understand this realm, we will launch a Deep Ocean Mission with a
budget outlay of more than `4,000 crores, over five years. This Mission will
cover deep ocean survey exploration and projects for the conservation of
deep sea bio-diversity.
6. Minimum Government, Maximum Governance
132. Speaker Sir, I now come to the last of the six pillars. This will outline
plans for reforms in one of our core principles of minimum government,
maximum governance.
133. We have taken a number of steps to bring reforms in Tribunals in
the last few years for speedy delivery of justice. Continuing with the
reforms process, I now propose to take further measures to rationalize the
functioning of Tribunals.
134. We have introduced the National Commission for Allied Healthcare
Professionals Bill in Parliament, with a view to ensure transparent and
25
efficient regulation of the 56 allied healthcare professions. Additionally, to
bring about transparency, efficiency and governance reforms in the nursing
profession, The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill will be
introduced by the government for passing.
135. To have ease of doing business for those who deal with Government
or CPSEs, and carry out contracts, I propose to set up a Conciliation
Mechanism and mandate its use for quick resolution of contractual
disputes. This will instil confidence in private investors and contractors.
136. The forthcoming Census could be the first digital census in the
history of India. For this monumental and milestone-marking task, I have
allocated `3,768 crores in the year 2021-2022.
137. Goa is celebrating the diamond jubilee year of the state’s liberation
from Portuguese rule. From the GoI’s side, I propose a grant of `300 crores
to the Government of Goa for the celebrations.
138. I propose to provide `1,000 crores for the welfare of Tea workers
especially women and their children in Assam and West Bengal. A special
scheme will be devised for the same.
Fiscal Position
139. In these last few paragraphs of Part A of my speech, I draw the
attention of this august House to the fact that, at the beginning of the
current Financial Year, the pandemic’s impact on the economy resulted in a
weak revenue inflow. This was combined with high expenditure to provide
essential relief to vulnerable sections of the society especially the poor,
women, SCs and STs.
140. Unlike many other countries, we opted for a series of medium-sized
packages during the pandemic so that we could calibrate and target our
response according to an evolving situation. Once the health situation
stabilised, and the lockdown was being slowly lifted, we switched to
ramping up Government spending so as to revive domestic demand. As a
result, against an original BE expenditure of `30.42 lakh crores for 2020-
2021, our RE estimates are `34.50 lakh crores. We have maintained the
26
quality of expenditure. The capital expenditure, estimated in RE is ` 4.39
lakh crores in 2020-2021 as against `4.12 lakh crores in BE 2020-21.
141. The fiscal deficit in RE 2020-21 is pegged at 9.5% of GDP. We have
funded this through Government borrowings, multilateral borrowings, Small
Saving Funds and short term borrowings. We would need another ` 80,000
crores for which we would be approaching the markets in these 2 months.
To ensure that the economy is given the required push, our BE estimates for
expenditure in 2021-2022, are `34.83 lakh crores. This includes ` 5.54 lakh
crores as capital expenditure, an increase of 34.5% over the BE figure of
2020-2021. The fiscal deficit in BE 2021-2022 is estimated to be 6.8% of
GDP. The gross borrowing from the market for the next year would be
around `12 lakh crores. We plan to continue with our path of fiscal
consolidation, and intend to reach a fiscal deficit level below 4.5% of GDP by
2025-2026 with a fairly steady decline over the period. We hope to achieve
the consolidation by first, increasing the buoyancy of tax revenue through
improved compliance, and secondly, by increased receipts from
monetisation of assets, including Public Sector Enterprises and land. The
Contingency Fund of India is being proposed to be augmented from `500
crores to `30,000 crores through Finance Bill.
142. In accordance with the views of the 15th Finance Commission, we
are allowing a normal ceiling of net borrowing for the states at 4% of GSDP
for the year 2021-2022. A portion of this ceiling will be earmarked to be
spent on incremental capital expenditure. Additional borrowing ceiling of
0.5% of GSDP will also be provided subject to conditions. States will be
expected to reach a fiscal deficit of 3% of GSDP by 2023-24, as
recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.
143. In the July 2019-2020 Budget, I introduced the Statement 27 on
Extra Budgetary Resources – it disclosed the borrowings of Government
agencies that went towards funding GoI schemes, and whose repayment
burden was on the Government. In my 2020-2021 Budget, I enhanced the
scope and coverage of the Statement, by including the loans provided by
Government to the FCI. Taking a step further in this direction, I propose to
discontinue the NSSF Loan to FCI for Food Subsidy and accordingly Budget
Provisions have been made in RE 2020-21 and BE 2021-22. The Extra
Budgetary Resources details are at Annexure VI.
27
144. We know that the FRBM Act mandates fiscal deficit of 3% of GDP to
be achieved by 31st March 2020-2021. The effect of this year’s unforeseen
and unprecedented circumstances has necessitated the submission of a
deviation statement under Sections 4 (5) and 7 (3) (b) of the FRBM Act
which I am laying on the Table of the House as part of the FRBM
Documents.
145. Towards achieving Central Government fiscal deficit along the broad
path that I have already indicated; I will be introducing an amendment to
the FRBM Act.
146. On 9th December 2020, the 15th Finance Commission submitted its
final report, covering the period 2021-2026 to the Rashtrapati ji. The
Government has laid the Commission’s report, along with the explanatory
memorandum in the Parliament retaining the vertical shares of the states at
41%. We recognise our commitment to fiscal federalism and propose
therefore to adhere to this recommendation. Jammu and Kashmir in the
14th Finance Commission was entitled to get devolution being a State. Now,
the funds to the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would be provided
by the Centre. I have also provided, on the Commission’s recommendation,
`1,18,452 crores as Revenue Deficit Grant to 17 states in 2021-2022, as
against `74,340 crores to 14 States in 2020-2021.
Post a Comment