Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget balanced fiscal discipline with political strategies. Bihar received Rs 26,000 crore for road projects and a 2400 MW power plant worth Rs 21,400 crore. Andhra Pradesh was allocated Rs 15,000 crore and support for the Polavaram Project. Infrastructure initiatives target the Vishakhapatnam-Chennai and Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridors. Capital investment allocations and multilateral development bank assistance were highlighted. Employment incentives include EPFO-linked benefits and Rs 5,000 internship allowances. Rahul Gandhi criticized the budget as ‘Kursi Bachao’ for favoring NDA allies.
