Union Budget 2021 Live Updates: The Budget 2021-22 unveiling started with a speech from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. FM has promised a budget like no other this year.

 Budget 2021 LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led govt is presenting its most closely watched Budget 2021 today. The Budget 2021 has been tasked to get India back on track as the world’s fastest-growing major economy by boosting spending on job-creation and rural development while fighting back the coronavirus.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Budget 2021 would be 'unlike anything seen so far.' FM Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget speech started at 11 am in New Delhi.

The Budget 2021 is being live telecast on the Mint website and App.

Budget 2021 LIVE updates: Key developments

• Union Budget 2021 live: India Budget 2021: Six pillars of Budget

Health and wellbeing

Infrastructure

Inclusive development

Development of human capital

Research and development

Minimum government, maximum governance

• Seeing revival in the economy; Govt fully prepared to support & facilitate the economic reset: FM.
• The Govt stretched its resources for the benefit of the poorest of the poor. The PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, the three AatmaNirbhar Bharat packages and subsequent announcements were like five mini-budgets in themselves: FM Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark, FM quotes Tagore.
• The total financial impact of all AatmaNirbhar Bharat packages, including measures taken by the RBI was about ₹ 27.1 lakh crore, more than 13% of GDP: FM.
• Today India has 2 vaccines available and has begun safeguarding not only her own citizens against COVID 19 but also those of 100 or more countries. It has added comfort to know that 2 more vaccines are also expected soon: FM.
• The preparation of this Budget was undertaken in circumstances like never before, in view of calamities that have affected a country or a region within a country. But what we have endured with COVID-19 to 2020 is Sui generis: FM Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Express my gratitude to frontline warriors: FM.
• Global economy, which was slowing down, was pushed into uncertainty due to COVID-19. The risk of not having a lockdown was far more, far too high: FM
• FM Nirmala Sitharaman rises to present Union Budget 2021-22.
• India's factory activity expanded at its strongest pace in three months in January, fuelled by a continued recovery in demand and output, according to a private survey which also showed firms cut jobs at the slowest pace in 10 months.
• The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Budget for the fiscal year 2021-22.
• Union Cabinet's meeting begins ahead of the presentation of Union Budget 2021-22 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Parliament today.
• Rupee rises 7 paise to 72.89 against US dollar in early trade.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches the Parliament.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan arrive at the Parliament.
• FM reaches Parliament, Union Cabinet meeting to start at 10.15.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets President Ram Nath Kovind ahead of the Budget 2021 presentation. As per established tradition, the Finance Minister met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhawan before heading to Parliament.

• Union Budget 2021 can also be downloaded from the Government of India's official website www.indiabudget.gov.in after the Budget will be tabled in the Parliament.
• All tax experts were of the view that there some deductions that would be available for medical expenses that many families had to bear due to covid-19. This could be done under Section 80D.
• Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to increase spending by more than 15% year-on-year in 2021-22 with an emphasis on infrastructure and healthcare.
• Citigroup expects a 19% year-on-year growth in gross tax revenue next year, with healthier goods and services tax revenue helping boost overall collection. It expects GST to average ₹1.15 lakh a month next fiscal -- translating into nearly ₹14 lakh in total for the year.
• The Union Cabinet will hold a meeting at 10:15 am before the presentation.
• Ahead of her third Budget presentation, the Finance Minister and her team will meet President Ram Nath Kovind, and will likely be accompanied by her deputy Anurag Thakur and other officials of the Finance Ministry.
• Finance Minister had launched the "Union Budget Mobile App" for hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience.
• Sitharaman in her first budget in 2019 replaced leather briefcase that had been for decades used for carrying budget documents with a traditional red cloth 'bahi-khata'.
• If history is a guide, the recent rough ride for Indian stocks will continue after Monday’s budget. Read how Sensex faces Budget hurdle with history as a guide.
• The stock market tanked almost 40% in March 2020 and bounced back to achieve new all-time high milestones. With that said, investors will be keenly awaiting the budget and the impact it may have on the investment decisions. Here are few expectations retail investors have from Budget 2021.
• Tax experts expect the government to fix some anomalies in the NPS or National Pension Scheme with regard to income tax benefits. Here are five changes to income tax rules that could be announced in Budget 2021.