Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 01 February 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has welcomed the Union Budget 2025, calling it a “people-friendly budget” that will boost savings and investment.
In his statement following the budget presentation, Mr. Ray highlighted major changes in income tax, which he said would bring significant relief to the middle class. “No income tax will be payable on income up to ₹12 lakh. For salaried taxpayers, this limit will be ₹12.75 lakh, considering the standard deduction of ₹75,000,” he stated.
He also lauded the government’s move to raise the annual TDS exemption limit on rent from ₹2.40 lakh to ₹6 lakh. “This will be a major relief for small taxpayers receiving modest rental incomes,” he noted.
On the tourism front, Mr. Ray appreciated the government’s decision to extend Mudra loans to homestay owners, aiming to strengthen hospitality services in rural and emerging tourist destinations. “This initiative will greatly benefit new entrepreneurs in our Islands,” he said.
Describing the budget as growth-oriented, he emphasized its potential to drive progress across key sectors. “This budget will help boost agriculture, manufacturing, innovation, and the service sector,” he remarked.
Concluding his reaction, Mr. Ray underscored the budget’s vision for national growth. “Overall, this is a development-driven budget with a clear focus on making India the third-largest economy in the world,” he said.