Union Budget 2025 Schemes

The Union Budget for 2025–26, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, introduced several new schemes and initiatives to foster inclusive growth, enhance infrastructure, and promote innovation.

Various new changes have been made to the existing schemes. For Kerala PSC aspirants, you may expect 1 or 2 questions in the current affairs and GK section for the upcoming Kerala PSC exams.

☰Table of Contents

List of Government Schemes Proposed in Budget 2025

Below is a comprehensive list of the key schemes announced in the Union Budget 2025.

Agriculture and Rural Development

Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

Aim: Boost farm output, promote diverse crops, improve irrigation and storage, and enhance farmer livelihoods in low-yield areas.
Target Group: 1.7 crore farmers across 100 low-productivity districts.
Key Features:

Focus on low-output districts.
Enhance farm productivity.
Promotion of crop variety
Improve irrigation access.
Strengthen storage.
Progress tracking mechanism
Technology integration and state collaboration

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

Aim: Achieve self-sufficiency in the production of Urad, Tur, and Masoor pulses within six years. Reduce reliance on imports and increase the income of pulse farmers.
Target Group: Pulse farmers nationwide. NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India)1 are also key stakeholders for procurement.
Key Features:

Six-Year Mission: A defined timeframe to achieve self-reliance.
Focus on Specific Pulses: Targets Urad, Tur, and Masoor, which are key pulses consumed and imported in India.
Procurement Assurance: NAFED and NCCF will procure these pulses from registered farmers, providing a guaranteed market.
Emphasis on Climate-Resilient Seeds: Promotion of seeds that can withstand adverse weather conditions, ensuring stable production.
Improved Protein Content: Focus on developing and promoting varieties with enhanced nutritional value.
Support for Farmers: Likely to include measures such as providing quality seeds, promoting best agricultural practices, and offering extension services to pulse farmers.
Reduction of Imports: A key outcome is to decrease India's dependence on imported pulses, saving foreign exchange.
Income Enhancement: By ensuring procurement and potentially higher yields through improved practices, the mission aims to boost the income of pulse growers.

Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme

Aim: Address underemployment in agriculture. Create opportunities for rural women, young farmers, and small-scale farmers. Focus on skilling, investment, and technology in partnership with states. Achieve comprehensive rural prosperity and build resilience.
Target Group:

Primarily focuses on:

Rural women.
Young farmers.
Small-scale farmers.
Unemployed and underemployed individuals in the agricultural sector.
State governments (as key implementation partners).

Key Features:

Multi-Sectoral Programme: Addresses various aspects of the rural economy beyond just agriculture.
Focus on Underemployment: Directly tackles the issue of limited job opportunities and low productivity in the agricultural sector.
Emphasis on Skilling: Will involve providing training and skill development programs relevant to rural livelihoods, potentially including non-farm activities.
Investment Promotion: Aims to attract and facilitate investments in rural areas, likely across different sectors.
Technology Integration: Will leverage technology to improve agricultural practices, create new opportunities, and enhance market access.
State Partnership: Emphasizes collaboration and joint implementation with state governments, recognizing their crucial role in rural development.
Comprehensive Approach: Seeks holistic rural development, encompassing economic, social, and environmental aspects.
Resilience Building: Aims to equip rural communities to better withstand economic shocks and environmental challenges.
Opportunity Creation: Focuses on generating diverse employment and income-generating opportunities beyond traditional farming.

Enhanced Credit through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC)

Aim: Expand affordable credit for farmers, dairy producers, and fishermen. To increase the credit limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme for KCC.
Target Group: Aiming to benefit approximately 7.7 crore individuals within these categories:

Farmers holding Kisan Credit Cards.
Dairy producers.
Fishermen.

Key Features:

Increased Credit Limit: The credit limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme for KCC has been raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
Focus on Affordability: The scheme continues to provide credit at subsidized interest rates through the interest subvention mechanism.
Expanded Coverage: Includes farmers, as well as allied agricultural sectors like dairy and fisheries.
Improved Access: The enhanced limit aims to provide more substantial financial support to meet the evolving needs of these beneficiaries.
Streamlined Credit Delivery: KCC provides a single window for farmers' credit needs for crop production and other requirements.
Support for Working Capital: The credit can be used for various purposes, including purchasing inputs, meeting operational expenses, and other agricultural activities.
Government Support: The interest subvention is provided by the government to make the credit more affordable.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme

Launched on: August 1998.
Aim: To provide farmers with timely and adequate credit support for their agricultural and allied needs through a simplified and flexible credit delivery system.
Target Group:

All farmers (individuals/joint borrowers who are owner cultivators).
Tenant farmers, oral lessees, and sharecroppers.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of farmers.
Farmers engaged in allied activities like animal husbandry and fisheries (extended in 2018-19).

Key Features:

Provides short-term credit for crop cultivation.
Offers credit for post-harvest expenses.
Includes produce marketing loans.
Addresses the household consumption needs of farmers.
Provides working capital for farm asset maintenance.
Supports investment credit for agriculture and allied activities.
Credit limit is need-based, considering the cropping pattern and scale of finance.
Offers a revolving credit facility.
Interest rates are subsidized by the government.
Includes an ATM-cum-debit card for easy access to funds.
Repayment schedules are aligned with crop harvesting cycles.
Offers insurance coverage under PMFBY and personal accident insurance.
Has been extended to cover the investment credit requirements of farmers for allied and non-farm activities.

Mission for Cotton Productivity: A five-year initiative to promote sustainable farming practices, increase extra-long staple cotton production, and improve quality.

Also Read:

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

Entrepreneurship and MSMEs

Fund of Funds for Startups (2025)

Aim: To further support the expansion and development of startups.
Target Group:

Beneficiaries of the Funds: Early-stage and growth-stage startups.
Intermediaries: SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) that invest in startups.

Key Features:

New Allocation: A fresh corpus of ₹10,000 crore.
Focus on Expansion and Development: Emphasis on helping startups scale up.
Building on Existing Success: Leverages the impact of the initial FFS.
Leveraging Private Capital: Operates on a fund-of-funds model to encourage private investment.

Fund of Funds for Startups (2016)

Launched on: June 2016.
Aim: To catalyze venture capital and private equity investment in startups by providing capital to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which would then invest in early-stage and growth-stage startups.
Target Group:

Beneficiaries of the Funds: Early-stage and growth-stage startups across various sectors in India.
Intermediaries: SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) that invest in startups.

Key Features:

Corpus: ₹10,000 crore allocated by the Government of India.
Managed by SIDBI: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) manages the fund.
Catalytic Role: Aims to encourage private investment in the startup ecosystem.
Investment Mode: Provides capital to AIFs, which then invest in startups.
Milestone-Based Releases: Funds are released to AIFs based on their investment in startups.
Significant Impact: Has supported a large number of startups through its investments in various AIFs.

The 2016 fund was more about getting the funding flowing to startups in general, while the 2025 fund seems to be more strategic, aiming to channel funds into specific high-growth areas to propel the next stage of India's startup evolution.

Scheme for First-Time Entrepreneurs

Aim: To support first-time entrepreneurs from the specified communities. The specific sectors are not explicitly detailed in the budget announcement, but they likely aim to encourage new ventures.
Loan Amount: Provides term loans up to ₹2 crore over five years.
Target Group: Specifically mentioned as targeting 5 lakh women, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes, first-time entrepreneurs.
Key Features:

Aims to reach a larger number of beneficiaries (5 lakh over 5 years).
Will include online capacity building for entrepreneurship and managerial skills.
Offers a potentially higher loan amount (up to ₹2 crore) compared to the lower limit of Stand-Up India.
Will incorporate lessons from the successful Stand-Up India Scheme, suggesting it will build upon the experiences and best practices of the existing program.

Credit Guarantee Fund Enhancement

Aim: To improve access to credit for MSMEs and startups.
Target Group:

Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs).
Startups.
Export-oriented MSMEs.

Key Features:

Increased Credit Guarantee Cover for MSMEs: Doubled from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore, potentially unlocking an additional ₹1.5 lakh crore in credit over five years.
Increased Credit Guarantee Cover for Startups: Increased from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore.
Reduced Guarantee Fee for Startups: Reduced to 1% for loans in 27 focus sectors.
Enhanced Cover for Exporter MSMEs: Term loans up to ₹20 crore.
Customized Credit Cards: ₹5 lakh limit for micro-enterprises registered on the Udyam portal, with 10 lakh cards to be issued in the first year.
MSME Definition Revision: The investment and turnover limits for MSME classification have been increased by 2.5 times and 2 times, respectively.

Micro Enterprise Credit Cards: A ₹5 lakh credit facility for 10 lakh micro-enterprises, promoting financial inclusion and economic participation.

Export Promotion

Export Promotion Mission: To be established with sectoral and ministerial targets, led collaboratively by the Ministries of Commerce, MSME, and Finance.
BharatTradeNet (BTN): A unified digital platform facilitating international trade documentation and financing solutions.
National Framework for GCC: Policy incentives to promote outsourcing hubs (Global Capability Centres) in emerging Tier-2 cities.
Warehousing Facility for Air Cargo: Development of storage infrastructure for high-value perishable exports.

Urban Development and Infrastructure

Urban Challenge Fund

Aim: To encourage states to adopt innovative approaches for sustainable urbanization and the redevelopment of existing cities. Specifically, to implement proposals for:

'Cities as Growth Hubs'
'Creative Redevelopment of Cities'
'Water and Sanitation'

Target Group: State governments and urban local bodies (ULBs) across India that propose bankable projects aligned with the fund's objectives.
Key Features:

Significant Corpus: A total fund of ₹1 lakh crore has been earmarked for this initiative.
Financial Assistance: The fund will finance up to 25% of the cost of bankable projects.
Leveraging Other Funding Sources: A condition stipulates that at least 50% of the project cost must be funded through bonds, bank loans, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), encouraging market-based financing.
Focus Areas: Projects related to transforming cities into economic growth centers, creative urban regeneration, and improving water and sanitation infrastructure will be prioritized.
Initial Allocation: An allocation of ₹10,000 crore has been proposed for the fiscal year 2025-26 to initiate projects under this fund.
Incentivizing Innovation: The challenge fund mechanism encourages states and cities to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for urban development.
Potential for Integrated Development: The focus on 'Cities as Growth Hubs' suggests that projects may encompass integrated development covering various aspects like transport, energy, and social infrastructure.
Competitive Access: It's implied that states will need to present strong and viable proposals to access funding from this challenge fund.

SWAMIH Fund 2

This is the second iteration of the SWAMIH fund, with the first one launched earlier.
Aim: Expedite the completion of another 1 lakh stressed housing units across the country. Provide relief to middle-income homebuyers who are stuck in delayed or stalled projects.
Target Group:

Stressed residential projects that meet specific criteria (likely similar to SWAMIH Fund I).
Middle-income homebuyers who have invested in these stalled projects.
Financial institutions and project developers are involved in these stressed assets.

Key Features:

Follow-up Fund: This is the second fund under the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) initiative.
Focus on Completion: Provides last-mile financing to ensure the completion of stuck housing projects.
Targeted Beneficiaries: Specifically aims to help middle-income homebuyers who are facing hardships due to project delays.
Significant Allocation: An allocation of ₹15,000 crore has been announced for SWAMIH Fund 2.
Building on Success: Leverages the experience and successful model of the first SWAMIH fund, which has helped complete several stressed projects.
Potential for Economic Revival: Completion of these projects can also have a positive impact on the real estate sector and the overall economy.
Likely Government Backing: Similar to the first fund, SWAMIH Fund 2 is likely sponsored by the Government of India.
Professional Management: The fund is expected to be managed by professional fund managers.

SWAMIH Fund (Fund 1)

Launched on: November 6, 2019.
Aim: Provide last-mile financing to stalled affordable and mid-income housing projects across India. Ensure completion of these projects and provide relief to homebuyers. Revive the real estate sector and unlock capital.
Target Group:

Stalled, Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) registered residential development projects.
Projects in the affordable and mid-income housing category.
Projects that are net worth positive and require last-mile funding to complete construction.
Homebuyers who have invested in these stalled projects.

Key Features:

Government-Backed: Sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Managed by SBI Ventures Ltd: A State Bank of India group company.
"Last Mile Funding": Provides the necessary funds to complete projects nearing completion but stuck due to financial constraints.
Social Impact Fund: India's largest social impact fund, specifically for real estate.
Addresses Trust Deficit: Aims to bridge the gap between homebuyers and developers by ensuring project completion.
Lender of Last Resort: Considers projects with litigation issues, NPAs, and even developers with poor track records.
Significant Corpus: Raised over ₹15,530 crore.
Focus on Project Completion: Strict monitoring to ensure funds are used solely for project completion.
Positive Impact: Has led to the completion and delivery of thousands of homes, unlocked significant liquidity, and boosted confidence in the real estate sector.

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Infrastructure: Infrastructure-related ministries are to develop a 3-year pipeline of projects in PPP mode, with states encouraged to do the same.
Maritime Development Fund: A ₹25,000 crore fund to support long-term financing for shipbuilding, ports, and logistics infrastructure.

Also Read:

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

Education and Skill Development

Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education

Aim: To enhance skills, personalize learning, and transform education by developing cutting-edge AI solutions.
Target Group: Students, educators, and the workforce.
Key Features:

An allocation of ₹500 crore.
Focus on developing AI solutions for education, including personalized learning platforms and AI-driven assessment tools.
Alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Collaboration between academic institutions, industry leaders, and government bodies.

Atal Tinkering Labs Expansion

The Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) initiative itself was launched in 2017.
Aim: To foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds; and to cultivate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, and physical computing. The expansion aims to further democratize access to innovation and tinkering facilities for the school students.
Target Group: Primarily students in government schools across India. The expansion aims to increase the reach from the existing number to 50,000 labs within the next five years.
Key Features of the Expansion:

Increased Number of Labs: Scaling up the existing network of Atal Tinkering Labs to a target of 50,000 in government schools over the next five years.
Focus on Government Schools: The expansion specifically targets government schools to ensure that students in these institutions have access to these facilities.
Building on Existing Framework: The expansion will likely leverage the existing operational framework of the ATL initiative, including the provision of grants, equipment, and training.
Promoting Innovation Ecosystem: The increased number of labs is expected to further strengthen the innovation ecosystem at the school level, encouraging more students to engage in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning and innovation.
NITI Aayog Initiative: Atal Tinkering Labs is an initiative of the NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), and AIM will continue to fuel the expansion.
Long-Term Goal: This expansion aligns with the long-term vision of creating a generation of innovators and problem-solvers in India.

The Union Budget 2025 announced a significant expansion of the existing Atal Tinkering Labs initiative, aiming to establish 50,000 such labs in government schools within the next five years to cultivate innovation and STEM skills among a wider student population.

Expansion of Medical Education:

An addition of 10,000 seats in medical colleges and hospitals is planned for the next year, contributing to the goal of adding 75,000 seats in the next 5 years.

Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme

Aim: To promote the availability and accessibility of books in various Indian languages for students in schools and higher education institutions. The focus is on providing these books in digital format to improve subject comprehension among students.
Target Group:

Students in schools (all levels).
Students in higher education institutions (colleges and universities).
Educational institutions across the country.

Key Features:

Focus on Indian Languages: Aims to encourage the use and learning of mother tongues and other Indian languages.
Digital Format: The primary mode of delivery for these books will be digital, likely through online platforms and e-readers.
Improved Subject Comprehension: The scheme is designed to help students understand subjects better by providing learning materials in languages they are more comfortable with.
Accessibility: Digital format will enhance accessibility to books, potentially overcoming geographical and logistical barriers.
Potential for Diverse Content: Could include textbooks, reference materials, and other learning resources across various subjects.
Alignment with NEP 2020: This scheme aligns with the National Education Policy 2020's emphasis on promoting Indian languages and multilingualism in education.
Collaboration: Likely to involve collaboration with publishers, educational content creators, and language experts.
Centralized Platform: A dedicated platform or integration with existing digital education infrastructure is expected for accessing these books.

National Centres of Excellence for Skilling: Five centres to be set up with global expertise and partnerships to equip youth with skills required for manufacturing.

Healthcare and Social Security

PM SVANidhi Revamp

Aim: To further support street vendors by providing enhanced financial assistance, integrating them into the digital economy, and building their capacity. To build upon the success of the existing PM SVANidhi scheme, which has benefited over 68 lakh street vendors.
Target Group: Street vendors operating in urban areas as of March 24, 2020, who are eligible under the existing PM SVANidhi scheme. This includes vendors with a Certificate of Vending or Identity Card issued by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), those identified in surveys but awaiting documentation, and those recommended by ULBs/Town Vending Committees.
Key Features:

Enhanced Loans: Will provide increased loan amounts from banks (specific new limits beyond the existing tranches are yet to be fully detailed, but imply higher potential credit access).
UPI-Linked Credit Cards: Introduction of UPI-linked credit cards with a limit of ₹30,000 for street vendors, facilitating digital transactions and potentially providing a more flexible credit line.
Capacity Building Support: The revamped scheme will include provisions for training and skill development to help vendors manage their businesses better and adapt to changing market dynamics.
Building on Existing Benefits: The revamp is in addition to the existing benefits of the PM SVANidhi scheme, such as collateral-free working capital loans (up to ₹10,000 in the first tranche, ₹20,000 in the second, and ₹50,000 in the third), interest subsidies for timely repayment, and cashback incentives for digital transactions.
Focus on Digital Inclusion: The UPI-linked credit cards strongly emphasize integrating street vendors into the digital payments ecosystem.

PM SVANidhi (PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi)

Launched on: June 1, 2020.
Aim: Provide affordable working capital loans to street vendors. Help them resume their livelihoods affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Promote digital transactions. Facilitate their holistic socio-economic development.
Target Group: Street vendors operating in urban areas as of or before March 24, 2020. This includes:

Vendors with a Certificate of Vending or Identity Card issued by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
Vendors identified in surveys but awaiting documentation.
Vendors recommended by ULBs/Town Vending Committees (TVCs).
Vendors from surrounding rural/peri-urban areas vending within ULB limits with a Letter of Recommendation (LoR).

Key Features:

Collateral-free working capital loans:

1st loan: Up to ₹10,000 (1-year tenure).
2nd loan: Up to ₹20,000 (18-month tenure, after repaying the first).
3rd loan: Up to ₹50,000 (36-month tenure, after repaying the second).

Interest subsidy: 7% per annum on timely/early repayment (credited quarterly via Direct Benefit Transfer).
Cashback incentive: Up to ₹100 per month for undertaking prescribed digital transactions.
Gradual credit enhancement: Higher loan eligibility upon successful repayment of earlier loans.
Wider base of lending institutions: Includes commercial banks, RRBs, SFBs, cooperative banks, NBFCs, MFIs, and SHG banks.
Credit guarantee: Coverage for lending institutions through CGTMSE.
Focus on digital transactions: Incentivizes vendors and customers to adopt digital payments.
Socio-economic profiling (under 'SVANidhi Se Samriddhi'): Extends social security benefits to vendors and their families.
Extended duration: The scheme has been extended beyond its initial period until December 2024.

Social Security Scheme for Welfare of Online Platform Workers

Launched on: Gradually being implemented under the Code on Social Security, 2020 (not fully active). Commitment reiterated in the Union Budget 2025.
Aim: Provide social security to gig and platform workers, addressing their unique employment vulnerabilities.
Target Group: Gig workers and platform workers (e.g., delivery drivers, freelancers using online platforms).
Key Features:

e-Shram Registration & ID Cards: Facilitating registration and providing identification for benefit access.
PM-JAY Healthcare Access: Providing healthcare benefits under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Potential for Broader Benefits: Envisions accident, disability, life, maternity, old age protection (specifics pending).
Tripartite Contributions: Funded by central/state governments and online platforms.

This scheme aims to protect online platform workers with healthcare and potentially other social security benefits through registration and shared contributions.

Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0

Launched on: The umbrella scheme was approved for implementation during the 15th Finance Commission period, 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Aim:

To improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls.
To modernize and strengthen the Anganwadi infrastructure.
To integrate early childhood care, nutrition, and education.
To promote health and well-being in aspirational districts and the Northeastern region.

Target Group:

Children in the age group of 0-6 years.
Adolescent girls in the age group of 14-18 years (primarily in Aspirational Districts and the North Eastern Region).
Pregnant women.
Lactating mothers.

Key Features:

Integrated Programme: Merges Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls.
Nutrition Support: Provides supplementary nutrition through Anganwadi centers, focusing on fortified food grains.
Early Childhood Care and Education: Offers pre-school education (3-6 years) and early stimulation (0-3 years).
Anganwadi Infrastructure: Focuses on upgrading Anganwadi centers to "Saksham Anganwadis" with improved facilities.
Poshan Abhiyaan: Drives outreach and innovation for improved nutrition outcomes.
Focus Areas: Maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding norms, treatment of malnutrition (MAM/SAM), and wellness through AYUSH practices.
Poshan Tracker: A centralized ICT data system for efficient monitoring and tracking of beneficiaries.
Enhanced Cost Norms: The Union Budget 2025 announced an enhancement in the cost norms for nutritional support under this program.
Significant Budget Allocation: The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated ₹21,960 crore to schemes under Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0.

Day Care Cancer Centre: To be set up in all district hospitals in the next three years, with 200 centres planned for 2025–26.

Energy and Environment

Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat

Aim: To enhance India's nuclear power capacity and promote sustainable energy sources as part of the "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) vision. To focus on research and development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and encourage private sector participation in the nuclear energy sector.
Target Group: Nuclear energy research institutions, the nuclear power industry (both public and private sectors), technology developers for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and potentially investors in the nuclear energy sector.
Key Features:

Focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): A significant emphasis on R&D for SMR technology, recognizing its potential for flexible and decentralized power generation.
Encouraging Private Sector Participation: The mission aims to create an enabling environment for private companies to invest in and contribute to the nuclear energy sector.
Significant Outlay: A substantial financial commitment is expected to support the mission's objectives, although the exact amount wasn't specified in the initial budget announcement details.
Sustainable Energy Goal: Aligns with India's broader goals of achieving energy security and transitioning towards cleaner energy sources.
Technological Advancement: Aims to foster innovation and technological advancements in the nuclear energy domain.
Contribution to Viksit Bharat: Nuclear energy is envisioned as a key component of India's future energy mix, supporting its development goals.
Potential for Energy Security: Expanding nuclear power capacity can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and enhance energy independence.

Taxation Reforms

The Union Budget 2025-26 included major tax measures aimed at reducing the tax burden on people, simplifying compliance, and stimulating economic development.

Here's an overview of the key changes:

Direct Tax Reforms

Tax Exemption Limit Raised: No tax for income up to ₹12 lakh under the new regime.
Revised Slabs: Maximum tax rate of 30% for income above ₹24 lakh.
Standard Deduction: ₹75,000 for salaried individuals.
Senior Citizens: Deduction limit doubled to ₹1 lakh.
TDS on Rent: Threshold increased from ₹2.4 lakh to ₹6 lakh annually.
NRIs: Presumptive tax of 25% for certain services provided to Indian electronic manufacturing firms.

Indirect Tax Reforms

Customs Duty: Tariff structure simplified, now only 8 rates, including the 'zero' rate.
Cess/Surcharge: Social Welfare Surcharge removed on 82 items.
Investment Incentive: Sovereign and pension fund investment deadline extended to 31st March 2030.

Summary

The table below summarises all the schemes announced in the Union Budget 2025:

Scheme Name	Objective	Target Group	Key Features
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana	Boost farm productivity and income in low-yield areas	1.7 crore farmers in 100 low-productivity districts	Diverse cropping, irrigation, storage, tech-enabled, implemented with states
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses	Achieve self-sufficiency in pulses (Urad, Tur, Masoor)	Pulse farmers, NAFED, NCCF	Six-year mission, procurement assurance, climate-resilient seeds, nutrition, reduced imports
Enhanced Credit via KCC	Affordable credit to farmers, dairy producers, and fishermen	7.7 crore KCC holders	Credit limit raised to ₹5 lakh, subsidized interest, single-window, includes allied activities
Mission for Cotton Productivity	Promote sustainable cotton farming and increase extra-long staple cotton	Cotton farmers	Sustainable practices, better quality, and productivity focus
Fund of Funds for Startups (2025)	Support early- and growth-stage startups	Startups, SEBI-registered AIFs	₹10,000 crore corpus, private capital leverage, expansion focus
First-Time Entrepreneurs Scheme	Empower women, SC/ST first-time entrepreneurs	5 lakh women, SC, ST entrepreneurs	Term loans up to ₹2 crore, capacity building, and builds on Stand-Up India
Credit Guarantee Fund Enhancement	Improve credit access for MSMEs and startups	MSMEs, startups, exporters	Guarantee limits doubled, fee reduced, customized credit cards, revised MSME definition
Export Promotion Mission	Drive exports with sectoral goals	Exporters, Ministries	Coordinated push, trade facilitation through BharatTradeNet
Urban Challenge Fund	Redevelop cities and promote urban innovation	States, ULBs	₹1 lakh crore fund, 25% cost coverage, PPPs encouraged
SWAMIH Fund 2	Complete stalled middle-income housing projects	Homebuyers, developers	₹15,000 crore fund, last-mile financing, govt-backed
PPP in Infrastructure	Promote infrastructure development via public-private partnership	Central and state ministries	3-year PPP project pipeline
Maritime Development Fund	Finance shipping, ports, logistics	Maritime sector	₹25,000 crore fund, long-term financing
Centre of Excellence in AI for Education	Enhance education using AI	Students, educators	₹500 crore, NEP 2020 aligned, AI-driven tools
Atal Tinkering Labs Expansion	Encourage school innovation	Govt school students	50,000 labs in 5 years, STEM focus
Expansion of Medical Education	Increase MBBS seats	Aspiring medical students	10,000 new seats in 2025–26
Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme	Promote Indian language content in education	School and college students	Digital books, NEP 2020-aligned, accessible learning
National Centres of Excellence for Skilling	Equip youth with manufacturing skills	Youth	5 global-partnered centers
PM SVANidhi Revamp	Expand benefits to street vendors	Urban street vendors	UPI-linked credit cards, higher loans, digital inclusion, skill training
Day Care Cancer Centres	Improve cancer care access	Patients in the districts	200 new centers in 2025–26, district-level coverage
Social Security for Online Platform Workers	Provide social protection to gig workers	Gig/platform workers	Registration via e-Shram, PMJAY healthcare access
Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat	Boost nuclear power through innovation and SMRs	Nuclear sector, private investors	R&D in SMRs, private participation, clean energy push