She clocked 87 minutes!
On Wednesday, 01 February 2023, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman completed her fifth consecutive budget speech in under 90 minutes which is her shortest till now. She took 87 minutes.
In the year 2022, she clocked 92 minutes, which held the record for being the shortest so far. In 2021, she spoke for an hour and 50 minutes.
In 2020, she broke all records for making the longest budget speech in India's history at 2 hours and 40 minutes. She was forced to cut it short and take a breather as she felt unwell while speaking continuously.
Ms. Sitharaman was seen sipping on what appeared to be electrolytes during the 2020 speech.
"This is the first Budget in Amrit Kaal," Ms. Sitharaman said opening her address, adding that inclusive development is Narendra Modi’s' government's first priority.
Under a new five-slab structure, those making even a rupee above it will have to pay tax though they will get exemptions already available, such as life insurance premium and long-term mutual funds.
If you make more than ? 7 lakh a year, there will be five tax slabs now, applicable on the taxable income calculated after all.
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