The Union Budget session of Indian Parliament has kickstarted on Monday with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both houses in the Central Hall.&nbsp; 
 
President Ram Nath Kovind praised India's fight against the new coronavirus while speaking before the Parliament's Budget Session: “India’s capability to fight COVID-19 was evident in its vaccination program. In less than a year, we made a record of administering over 1.5 billion doses of vaccine. Today, we’re one of the leading nations in the world when it comes to the number of doses given.”

Here are the highlights of President Ramnath Kovind's speech:

<ol>
	<li>We saw the capability of India's youth power in the Tokyo Olympics. Giving its best-ever performance, India won seven medals. In the Tokyo Paralympics, too, India won 19 medals and set a record. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Our small-scale farmers have a significant role in the country’s development. My government has always prioritised 80 per cent of our small-scale farmers. As part of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, over 11 crore families have benefited to date, said President Kovind. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Women's empowerment is one of the top priorities of my government. We're witnesses to the success of the Ujjwala Yojana. Through the Mudra Yojana, the entrepreneurship and skills of women have received a boost. Many positive results have come to the fore with "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao". In an attempt to provide an equal status to sons and daughters, my government has presented a Bill to increase the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>My government is also running a PM Svanidhi Yojana to benefit the street vendors. So far, 2.8 million&nbsp;street vendors have received monetary support worth over Rs 29 billion. The Centre is now connecting these vendors via online companies. We can also see the impact of the manner in which my government linked Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile, the JAM trinity, to citizen empowerment. Thousands and thousands of people have received direct cash transfers during the pandemic. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>To ensure that no one returns home hungry, my government distributes free rations to the poor every month as part of the PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana. Today, India is running the world's largest food distribution program. Also, the Ayushman Bharat card has benefitted the poor. The availability of medicines at low prices at Jan Aushadi Kendra was also a great move. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>I bow down to the freedom fighters who prioritised their duties and helped India get its rights. I also respectfully remember the personalities who contributed to the development of India in the 75 years of Independence. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>It is true that polls affect Sessions and discussions. But I request all MPs that elections will go on but the Budget Session draws a blueprint for the entire year. The more fruitful we make it, the better our economic progress will be.</li>
</ol>

The pre-budget Economic Survey 2022 was tabled in Parliament today, ahead of the Union Budget for the next fiscal year, which starts on April 1, 2022.

The Economic Survey summarises the health of the economy and recommends policy recommendations, however it frequently underestimates GDP forecasts.&nbsp;

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By criminalizing Triple Talaq, govt is moving in the direction of riddance from ill-practices. Govt has also lifted the ban on Muslim women to go to Haj with Mehram (male-guardian): President Ram Nath Kovind <a href="https://t.co/pBfdqBKfzz">pic.twitter.com/pBfdqBKfzz</a>
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The Budget session, which begins today, is the sixth since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in January 2020.

The 2020 Budget Session was shortened by eight sittings, while the 2021 Budget Session was abbreviated by ten sittings. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The Union Budget session of Indian Parliament has kickstarted on Monday with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both houses in the Central Hall.

The Union Budget session of Indian Parliament has kickstarted on Monday with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both houses in the Central Hall. President Ram Nath Kovind praised India's fight against the new coronavirus while speaking before the Parliament's Budget Session: “India’s capability to fight COVID-19 was evident in its vaccination program. In less than a year, we made a record of administering over 1.5 billion doses of vaccine. Today, we’re one of the leading nations in the world when it comes to the number of doses given.” Here are the highlights of President Ramnath Kovind's speech: We saw the capability of India's youth power in the Tokyo Olympics. Giving its best-ever performance, India won seven medals. In the Tokyo Paralympics, too, India won 19 medals and set a record. Our small-scale farmers have a significant role in the country’s development. My government has always prioritised 80 per cent of our small-scale farmers. As part of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, over 11 crore families have benefited to date, said President Kovind. Women's empowerment is one of the top priorities of my government. We're witnesses to the success of the Ujjwala Yojana. Through the Mudra Yojana, the entrepreneurship and skills of women have received a boost. Many positive results have come to the fore with "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao". In an attempt to provide an equal status to sons and daughters, my government has presented a Bill to increase the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. My government is also running a PM Svanidhi Yojana to benefit the street vendors. So far, 2.8 million street vendors have received monetary support worth over Rs 29 billion. The Centre is now connecting these vendors via online companies. We can also see the impact of the manner in which my government linked Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile, the JAM trinity, to citizen empowerment. Thousands and thousands of people have received direct cash transfers during the pandemic. To ensure that no one returns home hungry, my government distributes free rations to the poor every month as part of the PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana. Today, India is running the world's largest food distribution program. Also, the Ayushman Bharat card has benefitted the poor. The availability of medicines at low prices at Jan Aushadi Kendra was also a great move. I bow down to the freedom fighters who prioritised their duties and helped India get its rights. I also respectfully remember the personalities who contributed to the development of India in the 75 years of Independence. It is true that polls affect Sessions and discussions. But I request all MPs that elections will go on but the Budget Session draws a blueprint for the entire year. The more fruitful we make it, the better our economic progress will be. The pre-budget Economic Survey 2022 was tabled in Parliament today, ahead of the Union Budget for the next fiscal year, which starts on April 1, 2022. The Economic Survey summarises the health of the economy and recommends policy recommendations, however it frequently underestimates GDP forecasts. By criminalizing Triple Talaq, govt is moving in the direction of riddance from ill-practices. Govt has also lifted the ban on Muslim women to go to Haj with Mehram (male-guardian): President Ram Nath Kovind pic.twitter.com/pBfdqBKfzz — ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2022 × The Budget session, which begins today, is the sixth since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in January 2020. The 2020 Budget Session was shortened by eight sittings, while the 2021 Budget Session was abbreviated by ten sittings. (With inputs from agencies)

Economic Survey 2022 updates: Indian President Kovind highlights govt's agenda for growth

According to India's Economic Survey 2022, the country has fiscal space to do more to support the economy and has the legroom to boost spending&nbsp;to&nbsp;become the world's fastest-growing economy overtaking China.

India's Economic Survey presented by the government on Monday pegged growth for 2022-23 at 8-8.5 per cent and for 2021-22 at 9.2 per cent.

India was the fourth-largest forex reserves holder in the world after China, Japan&nbsp;and Switzerland, it said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/union-budget-2022-what-women-want-449197">Also Read:&nbsp;India Union Budget 2022: What women want</a>

The survey said economic activity has&nbsp;recovered to pre-pandemic levels with the impact of COVID-19 mainly felt on&nbsp;the suppy-side reforms.

Watch: India's finance minister Nirmala&nbsp;Sitharaman tables Indian Economic Survey

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-tables-indian-economic-survey-8-85-gdp-growth-projected-for-fy23-449178/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The survey said the economy had contracted&nbsp;7.3 per cent in 2020-21 as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the country resulting in lockdowns across the nation at various times.

However, the survey said the country is now "well placed to take on the challenges of 2022-23".

"Advance estimates suggest that GDP will record an expansion of 9.2 per cent in 2021-22. This implies that the level of real economic output will surpass the pre-COVID level of 2019-20," the survey said while asserting that private sector investment is likely to pick up which will boost the economy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-indias-budget-session-2022-pm-narendra-modi-urges-mps-to-discuss-with-open-mind-449120">Also Read:&nbsp;Ahead of India's Budget Session 2022, PM Narendra Modi urges MPs to discuss with open mind</a>

The survey underlined that the economy is in a good position due to its "unique response strategy" with recovery seen in the second half of 2020-21 as it avoided severe impact during the second wave in April-June last year with rebond witnessed in government revenues in 2021-22 so far.

However, the survey cautioned that India should be wary of imported inflation due to rise in&nbsp;global energy crisis even as it said the economy is well placed to face the challenges in 2022-23.

The survey pointed out that the performance of the agriculture and the allied sector has been "resilient" amid COVID-19 shock.&nbsp;

"Growth in allied sectors including livestock, dairying and fisheries has been the major drivers of overall growth in the sector," it said.

The report said the sources of income across groups of agricultural households accounted for nearly 15 per cent of average monthly income.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to India's Economic Survey 2022, the country has fiscal space to do more to support the economy and has the legroom to boost spending to become the world's fastest-growing economy overtaking China.

According to India's Economic Survey 2022, the country has fiscal space to do more to support the economy and has the legroom to boost spending to become the world's fastest-growing economy overtaking China. India's Economic Survey presented by the government on Monday pegged growth for 2022-23 at 8-8.5 per cent and for 2021-22 at 9.2 per cent. India was the fourth-largest forex reserves holder in the world after China, Japan and Switzerland, it said. Also Read: India Union Budget 2022: What women want The survey said economic activity has recovered to pre-pandemic levels with the impact of COVID-19 mainly felt on the suppy-side reforms. Watch: India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tables Indian Economic Survey The survey said the economy had contracted 7.3 per cent in 2020-21 as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the country resulting in lockdowns across the nation at various times. However, the survey said the country is now "well placed to take on the challenges of 2022-23". "Advance estimates suggest that GDP will record an expansion of 9.2 per cent in 2021-22. This implies that the level of real economic output will surpass the pre-COVID level of 2019-20," the survey said while asserting that private sector investment is likely to pick up which will boost the economy. Also Read: Ahead of India's Budget Session 2022, PM Narendra Modi urges MPs to discuss with open mind The survey underlined that the economy is in a good position due to its "unique response strategy" with recovery seen in the second half of 2020-21 as it avoided severe impact during the second wave in April-June last year with rebond witnessed in government revenues in 2021-22 so far. However, the survey cautioned that India should be wary of imported inflation due to rise in global energy crisis even as it said the economy is well placed to face the challenges in 2022-23. The survey pointed out that the performance of the agriculture and the allied sector has been "resilient" amid COVID-19 shock. "Growth in allied sectors including livestock, dairying and fisheries has been the major drivers of overall growth in the sector," it said. The report said the sources of income across groups of agricultural households accounted for nearly 15 per cent of average monthly income. (With inputs from Agencies)

India Budget 2022: India can become world’s fastest growing economy: Economic Survey

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Economic Survey 2022 updates: Indian President Kovind highlights govt's agenda for growth

India Budget 2022: India can become world’s fastest growing economy: Economic Survey