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The Budget session will start on January 31 with the tabling of the Economic Survey and conclude on February 13.
Budget 2025 Expectations Live: Rail budget may see capital expenditure rise by 20%
Budget 2025 Expectations: Latest News Today (January 18): Amid slowing economic growth and rising global uncertainties in Asia’s third-largest economy, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2025 on February 1 next month. The most important aspect of the budget will be any announcements concerning the income tax rebate. There is a growing debate about increasing the basic exemption limit in both the old and new tax regimes. Will Sitharaman provide any good news to individual taxpayers to help offset the inflationary woes? Stay with us for the latest news on the Union Budget 2025:
Real estate sector seeks higher tax deduction and green housing incentives…
Akash Khurana, President and CEO of Corporation, anticipates significant reforms in the Union Budget 2025 aimed at driving economic growth and enhancing efficiency across sectors, including real estate. As one of the largest contributors to the GDP, the real estate sector holds the potential to catalyze growth. Khurana emphasized the need to raise the tax deduction limit on housing loans from the current ₹2 lakh per annum to ₹5 lakh, which could significantly boost housing demand. He also expects the government to maintain its focus on infrastructure development, citing its multiplier effect on the economy. Additionally, incentives for green and eco-friendly housing could help increase the supply of sustainable units, aligning with the government’s emphasis on sustainable development.
Budget 2025 Expectations Live: Rail Budget may see up to 20% hike
The Union Budget 2025 may allocate a 15-20% hike in capital expenditure for Indian Railways for FY26. This increase could raise the total allocation to over ₹3 lakh crore, compared to ₹2.65 lakh crore in the current fiscal year. The national transporter is focused on utilizing its existing funds effectively while gearing up for this substantial boost in investment.
HR and staffing industry expects focus on skilling, employment growth, and workforce inclusion..
Puneet Arora, Managing Partner of Biz Staffing Comrade Pvt Ltd, highlights the transformative factors reshaping businesses and the talent landscape, including the growing skills gap, job flexibility, shifting organizational priorities, and the rise of AI. He emphasizes the need for the Union Budget 2025 to allocate more funds for structured skilling programs in emerging technologies to bridge critical skill gaps. Encouraging tax deductions for professional training courses could promote lifelong learning, enhancing workforce competitiveness.
Arora also calls for measures to support employee welfare, simplify compliance, and promote formal job creation. He advocates for granting the staffing industry “industry status” to recognize its pivotal role in employment generation, talent development, and economic growth. He underscores the importance of encouraging women to re-enter or remain in the workforce, fostering a balanced professional landscape. Additionally, promoting sustainable employment and micro-entrepreneurship is essential to drive India’s economic development. Arora urges the government to use the Union Budget 2025 to lay a roadmap for sustainable and inclusive employment growth, ensuring the benefits of economic progress are widely shared across sectors.
The finance minister had raised capital gains tax on equity investments in the last budget.
The hike in capital gains tax which came out as a pain point for investors in the last budget, having left many fearing it was the first step toward further increases. The government had raised the short-term capital gains tax on equity holdings held for less than one year from 15 percent to 20 percent. Similarly, the long-term capital gains tax on holdings sold after one year was increased from 10 percent to 12.5 percent. Ashish Gupta, Chief Investment Officer at Axis Mutual Fund, warned that the hike might only be the beginning. “To my mind, this looks like a first step, as 12.5 percent is an unusual rate. I wouldn’t be surprised if it moves up to 15 percent by the next Budget,” Gupta had remarked after Modi 3.0’s July Budget.
