Before the government announces its spending plan for the next year (called the Union Budget 2025-26), the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, is meeting with important people from different areas like business, education, healthcare, and construction. These meetings are to get ideas and suggestions from these experts on what the government should focus on in the budget to help the country grow and improve. 

December 26, 2024: Trade and Service Sector

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The first meeting will bring together representatives from the trade and service sectors. The goal is to discuss the issues these industries are facing and explore potential solutions. By identifying key challenges, the meeting will focus on finding policies that can help these sectors grow, become more competitive, and improve their overall performance in the market. The discussions will aim to create a roadmap for addressing their concerns and boosting their contribution to the economy.

December 27, 2024: Trade Unions and Financial Market Stakeholders

On the second day, the Finance Minister will meet trade unions and important players from the financial and capital markets. Discussions are expected to cover labor reforms, workers’ welfare, and measures to strengthen India’s financial ecosystem. 

December 28, 2024: Infrastructure, Energy, and Urban Development

The third day of consultations will cover infrastructure, energy, and urban development sectors. The importance will be on enhancing investments, promoting green energy initiatives, and addressing urban challenges.

December 30, 2024: Industry and Education & Health Sectors

The final round of discussions will include representatives from industries, along with stakeholders from the education and health sectors. The agenda will focus on promoting industrial growth, improving access to quality healthcare, and strengthening India’s education system.

As the countdown to Budget 2025-26 begins, these pre-budget meetings are about what citizens and businesses can expect in the upcoming fiscal year. These meetings are an important part of the budget-making process. It allows the government to line up its policies with ground-level requirements. The inputs from different sectors are taken to plan a budget.