Budget 2025: FM Nirmala Sitharaman proposes Makhana Board in Bihar | India Business News

NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday proposed establishing a Makhana Board in Bihar. In her budget speech, she emphasised that the Union government’s focus would be on ‘garib, youth, annadata and nari’.
Makhana (foxnuts) is widely produced and consumed in Bihar. “Makhana Board will be established in Bihar to improve production and processing of fox nut,” said Sitharaman.
The One District One Product scheme has significantly benefited Makhana producers, with the Makhana Research Centre receiving national institution status and the product securing a GI tag.
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“Our economy is the fastest-growing among all major global economies. Our development track record of the past 10 years and structural reforms have drawn global attention. Confidence in India’s capability and potential has only grown in this period. We see the next five years as a unique opportunity to realize ‘Sabka Vikas’, stimulating balanced growth of all regions,” she said in her 8th consecutive budget speech.
Additionally, she revealed plans for a new urea plant in Assam to boost fertiliser production.
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The facility, planned at Namrup, Assam, will have an annual production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tons. She noted that three previously inactive urea plants in the Eastern region had resumed operations.
The budget focuses on enhancing the spending capacity of India’s expanding middle class. The finance minister outlined “Union Budget 2025-26 with an effort to a. Accelerate growth b. Secure inclusive development c. Invigorate society and industry d. Uplift household sentiment and e. Enhance spending on power of India’s rising middle class”.