Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the government’s top priorities, focusing on modernizing post-harvest practices to enhance the agriculture ecosystem and promoting manufacturing in emerging sectors like renewable energy, semiconductors, and material sciences. She highlighted that the government has identified 13 sunrise sectors, including semiconductors, renewable energy, material sciences, earth sciences, and space industries, to receive high priority in manufacturing.
During an interaction with students at Hindu College, Sitharaman underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening agriculture and manufacturing sectors to stimulate the economy. She reiterated the importance of modernizing post-harvest practices in agriculture and promoting manufacturing in sunrise industries.
Sitharaman stated that these sectors are receiving high priority, not only in the budget but also in terms of improving research and development (R&D) and engaging top experts as advisors. She will present the interim budget for 2024 on 1 February, amid expectations of general elections in April-May.
Despite global economic challenges, India, as the fastest-growing major economy, is projected to grow at 7% in FY24, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Sitharaman reaffirmed the government’s focus on agriculture, highlighting the international interest in Indian food exports and value-added agricultural products. She expressed optimism about the immense potential in the agriculture sector.
