" We are the envy of the world in terms of our growth in GDP" - says Industrialist Anand Mahindra :::: More reactions to Budget 2024-25

Industrialist Anand Mahindra: 

We are the envy of the world in terms of our growth in GDP.

We are the preferred destination of the world for investment because of the belief in our future.

But the vital task ahead for us is to ensure that this growth is now accompanied by an explosion in job-creation. 

Hence for me, the most important element of yesterday’s budget was strong evidence that the Government recognises this to be its most important mission. And that skilling to make young people employable is as important as employment.  The schemes announced are promising. But they need to be tracked closely to ensure that the incentives are working and if any tweaks/modifications are required. 

And the private sector needs to step up to the crease and do its part by investing in both employment & employability…If we don’t all pull together for this task, the demographic dividend will go back to being a demographic disaster.

On the Union Budget,

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says "As Foreign Minister, we are very happy we've got a 22% growth in the budget of the Ministry of External Affairs. It will allow us to focus on our neighbourhood. 

It will allow us to support and work with the Global South. It will help us to facilitate and service and support Indians going abroad. Our passport services will definitely improve in many ways. As a result of all of this, the country will be more secure because our own neighbourhood will be much more friendly as a result of all that we do. 

Naturally, I'm pleased with the budget. 

Our country should appreciate that at this very difficult time in the global situation, this is a very good budget which will sustain India's growth at a very complicated environment. It will allow Indian diplomacy to serve the country. I think that's the reason why it should be applauded."

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweets, "Some members of Congress Party have suggested that the Congress introduced the idea of the employment schemes that were proposed in the Union Budget 2024-25 by the FM Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday...

The Congress’ proposal was a vaguely worded statement of employment linked incentives for corporates to avail tax credits against additional employment. In comparison, the NDA government has proposed an extensive incentive framework funded a government outlay and linked to enrolment and continued contribution to the EPFO, from first-time employees (Scheme 1) to the labour-intensive manufacturing industry (Scheme 2) to additional employment in all sectors (Scheme 3). 

Just the scope of Scheme 3 alone dwarfs what the Congress had proposed in its so-called Nyay Patra...Their claim to this idea is like claiming credit for actual poverty alleviation by PM Narendra Modi, just because they coined a term “Garibi Hatao”...".