Delivering her remarks during a fireside chat at India House in London, the finance minister highlighted India’s transformation into the world’s fifth-largest economy, attributing the milestone to “prudent macroeconomic policies, sustained reforms, and the resilience of the Indian people.”
“As we aspire to become a developed nation by 2047, our path forward requires innovation, sustained investments, and a firm commitment to inclusive growth,” Sitharaman said.
Sitharaman reaffirmed the Indian government’s commitment to continuing its reform-driven agenda, ensuring macroeconomic stability, and delivering growth that touches “every section of society.”
She placed special emphasis on digital governance, outlining how initiatives like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) have minimised leakages and improved targeted delivery of government subsidies and welfare schemes.
“E-delivery of services has expanded significantly across sectors like finance, social welfare, and local utilities,” she said, adding that collaboration with civil society, industry, and academia is essential to keep public policy citizen-focused and future-ready.
Referring to the Union Budget for FY26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the financial blueprint outlines a focused and strategic roadmap for India’s growth.
The key development priorities include: Enhancing agricultural productivity and driving rural development; Boosting growth in the MSME and manufacturing sectors; Supporting job creation and fostering innovation and strengthening energy security and promoting exports.
(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)