Nirmala Sitharaman: News

Nirmala Sitharaman is an economist, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician, and the Finance Minister of India as of 2021. Sitharaman did her BA in Economics from Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College, Tamil Nadu. She pursued an MA in Economics and an MPhil from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi. After completing her education, she stayed in the UK for the next few years, where she worked with PwC and BBC. She returned to India in the 1990s and became an educationist. During 2003-05, she was a member of the National Commission for Women (NCW). In 2006, Sitharaman joined the BJP, and in 2010 she was appointed as the party’s national spokesperson and later planned BJP’s media campaigns. In 2014, when the NDA formed the government at the Centre, Nirmala Sitharaman was sworn in as the Minister of State (MoS) for Finance & Corporate Affairs and later for Commerce & Industry. In 2017, she became India’s first full-time female Defence Minister. After NDA roared back to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Sitharaman became India’s first full-time female Finance Minister. She has been a Rajya Sabha MP since 2014.

Your gift vouchers will now be exempted from GST

The 55th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was held in Jaisalmer today.

21 Dec 2024

GST

Your health insurance premium will not become cheaper anytime soon

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has deferred its decision on slashing the tax rate on life and health insurance premiums.

19 Dec 2024

Lalit Modi

'Sharam karo': Netizens react to Mallya-Modi's 'we've been wronged' exchange

The exchange of birthday wishes between IPL founder Lalit Modi and absonding liqour tycoon Vijay Mallya on social media sparked significant online reactions, including memes, criticism, and questions about their actions.

17 Dec 2024

Inflation

Q2 GDP slowdown was a temporary blip: Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha on December 17 that the government views the GDP growth slowdown in Q2FY25 as a "temporary blip" and expects improvement in the coming quarters.

'Her English is good as...she attended JNU': Kharge jibes Sitharaman    

A heated exchange broke out in the Rajya Sabha on Monday between Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during a debate on the Constitution of India.

16 Dec 2024

Indira Gandhi

'Congress brazenly kept amending Constitution for Gandhi family, dynasty': Sitharaman 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday opened the Rajya Sabha debate on the 75th anniversary of India's Constitution.

Rajya Sabha to hold Constitution debate amid no-trust motion row

The Rajya Sabha will hold a two-day debate on the Constitution from Monday.

10 Dec 2024

Amit Shah

Explained: What is 'One Nation, One Election' bill

The Indian government is preparing to introduce the "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) Bill in Parliament.

06 Dec 2024

Goldman Sachs

RBI maintains repo rate at 6.5% amid inflation, growth concerns

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has opted to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5% for the 11th consecutive meeting.

05 Dec 2024

Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra: Fadnavis to take oath as CM today 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the third time on Thursday.

04 Dec 2024

Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra elections proved 'Ek Hain to Safe Hain': CM-elect Fadnavis 

Devendra Fadnavis has been elected the leader of the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislative Party and will be sworn in as the state's chief minister on Thursday.

04 Dec 2024

Lok Sabha

How Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill impacts consumers and finance sector

The Lok Sabha has passed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

03 Dec 2024

Ajit Pawar

Shinde not delaying Maharashtra CM announcement: Shiv Sena

The political landscape in Maharashtra is abuzz with anticipation as the state gears up for the swearing-in of its new government.

03 Dec 2024

Ajit Pawar

BJP likely to name Fadnavis as Maharashtra CM tomorrow

Ending the suspense over Maharashtra's next Chief Minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will announce its decision on Wednesday with senior party leader Devendra Fadnavis being the front-runner for the post.

02 Dec 2024

Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra: BJP names observers, Eknath Shinde's son junks deputy buzz

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as observers for an important meeting of its newly elected Maharashtra MLAs.

27 Nov 2024

Asaduddin Owaisi

Parliament Day-2: Congress to protest against Centre's 'neglect' of Wayanad

The second day of the Parliament Winter Session began at 11:00am on Wednesday.

17 Nov 2024

Narendra Modi

X user pleads for middle-class relief, Nirmala Sitharaman responds 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has responded to a social media user's plea for relief measures for the middle class.

12 Nov 2024

GST

Your health, life insurance premiums might become cheaper next month

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council will meet at the end of December, with a focus on possible tax relief on health and life insurance premiums.

30 Oct 2024

Indian Government

India's fiscal deficit narrows to ₹4.75L crore in H1 FY25

India's fiscal deficit for the first half of the ongoing financial year (April-September) has been pegged at ₹4.75 lakh crore, or 29.4% of annual estimates. This is a notable decline from last year's 39.3%.

25 Oct 2024

Ministry of Finance

Finance Ministry doubles PMMY loan limit to ₹20 lakh

The Indian Finance Ministry has announced a major hike in the loan limit under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).

16 Oct 2024

Inflation

Government announces 3% DA hike for 1 crore employees, pensioners

The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a 3% hike in the dearness allowance (DA) ahead of Diwali.

Multi-bagger HAL surges 2% on getting 'Maharatna' status

Shares of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) rose 2% today, hitting a day's high of ₹4,545.90 on the BSE.

12 Oct 2024

Government of India

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited becomes 14th Maharatna company: Know its significance

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a leading Indian public sector undertaking (PSU), has been upgraded to a 'Maharatna' company by the Government of India.

PM Internship Scheme: 193 companies offer over 90,800 opportunities

The Prime Minister Internship Scheme has garnered a massive response from the corporate world, with 193 companies offering over 90,800 internships in India.

09 Oct 2024

Indian Government

Will central government employees get DA hike before Diwali?

Central government employees across India are eagerly awaiting an announcement regarding a potential hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR).

You can now suggest changes to Income-tax Act, 1961

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has constituted an internal committee to carry out an exhaustive review of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

04 Oct 2024

Indian Economy

Sitharaman predicts $2,000 increase in per capita income by 2029

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has projected a significant increase in India's per capita income over the next five years.

03 Oct 2024

Central Government

PM Internship Scheme: How to apply online and avail stipend

The Prime Minister's internship scheme, which was first revealed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget speech on July 23, is all set to launch its online portal today.

Important update for investors: Key stock market changes effective today

Starting today, India's financial markets are seeing some big changes. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have rolled out new transaction fees for brokers across different segments.

29 Sep 2024

Bengaluru

'Clear-cut case of extortion': Complainant attacks Sitharaman over electoral bonds

Co-President of Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath (JSP), Adarsh Iyer, who filed a complaint against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, claimed that they misused their power to shake down companies for money.

28 Sep 2024

Bengaluru

FIR ordered against Sitharaman over 'extortion' through electoral bonds

A Special People's Court of Representatives in Bengaluru has ordered the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ETV Bharat reported.

24 Sep 2024

Maharashtra

Maharashtra officials inspect EY's Pune office after employee's death

Officials from the Maharashtra Labour Commissioner's office have conducted an inspection at the Ernst & Young (EY) office in Pune.

23 Sep 2024

Priyanka Chaturvedi

'Didn't' take...names': Sitharaman after remarks on CA's death draw backlash

Following backlash over remarks that people need "inner strength" to handle pressure in the aftermath of Anna Sebastian Perayil's death due to alleged work pressure, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that she did not take any names.

23 Sep 2024

Chennai

Sitharaman suggests 'stress management lessons' after EY employee's death; criticized

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for the inclusion of "stress management lessons" in educational institutions, following the recent death of a young chartered accountant (CA) employed with Ernst & Young (EY), on Sunday.

Explained: What is NPS Vatsalya, new pension plan for minors 

The National Pension System (NPS) Vatsalya scheme for minors will be launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday.

17 Sep 2024

Amit Shah

'One Nation, One Election' will be implemented this term: Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government plans to implement the "one nation, one election" policy within its current tenure.

16 Sep 2024

Indian Government

Modi government to launch NPS-Vatsalya scheme on September 18

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the NPS-Vatsalya scheme in Delhi on September 18.

Video of restaurateur's private conversation with Sitharaman leaked; BJP apologizes

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Annamalai has apologized on behalf of the party after it leaked a video of Sri Annapoorna restaurant chain owner Srinivasan apologizing to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

09 Sep 2024

GST

GST Council postpones decision on oil and gas contract taxation

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has postponed its decision regarding the taxation of oil and gas exploration contracts.

09 Sep 2024

GST

GST Council postpones decision on health, life insurance premiums

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has deferred its decision, on potentially reducing the tax rate for health and life insurance premiums, as reported by ET NOW.

08 Sep 2024

GST

GST Council to discuss tax on insurance premiums, e-gaming tomorrow

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will discuss potential changes in the taxation of insurance premiums and online gaming tomorrow.

India deploying modular nuclear reactors to hit net-zero by 2070

India will deploy between 40 and 50 small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), as part of its strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

PM Modi releases 109 climate-resilient seed varieties 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi on Sunday.

09 Aug 2024

Rahul Gandhi

Sitharaman says Gadkari's letter seeking GST relief released 'without permission' 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stated that a letter from Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, which called for the removal of 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on health and life insurance premiums, was made public without his approval.

06 Aug 2024

Business

Indexation benefit to return? Government mulls relief for real-estate investors

The Indian government is currently examining various options to alleviate concerns from the real estate sector, following Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's recent Budget 2024 announcement.

04 Aug 2024

BPCL

State-owned fuel retailers report 90% drop in Q1 earnings

India's state-owned fuel retailers, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), have reported a substantial decline in their Q1 earnings for the fiscal year 2024-25.

31 Jul 2024

India

Corporate exodus: 50% of Indian women may quit in 2-yrs

A study by consulting firm Aon has revealed, that nearly half of the women employed in India's corporate sector are either uncertain about their tenure with their current employers, or plan to quit within two years.

31 Jul 2024

Indian Economy

India's fiscal deficit decreases significantly to 8% of annual target

India's fiscal deficit, a crucial indicator of its financial health, has narrowed significantly in the first quarter of FY25.

31 Jul 2024

Nitin Gadkari

'Remove GST on life insurance...': Nitin Gadkari's appeal to Sitharaman

Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari has sent a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urging the withdrawal of the Goods and Services Tax applied to premiums for life and medical insurance plans.

30 Jul 2024

Bihar

'States not ignored...': Sitharaman defends budget, hits back at opposition

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday hit back at the opposition's claims that the Union Budget disproportionately favors the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's allies, the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar and the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh.

28 Jul 2024

Union Budget

Indian realty sector faces ₹6,480 crore loss post-Budget announcement

The Indian real estate sector suffered a significant loss of ₹6,480 crore in market value, following the Union Budget announcement by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.