Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the NDA government has marked a noteworthy achievement by completing its first 100 days in office for its historic third term. During this period, the government has rolled out a vast array of projects worth an astounding Rs 15 lakh crore, with a strategic focus spanning several crucial sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, support for the middle class, women's empowerment, welfare for minorities and tribals, and youth development.
In terms of infrastructure development, the central government has approved projects valued at Rs 3 lakh crore. This includes the sanctioning of eight national high-speed road corridor projects that extend over 900 kilometers, aimed at significantly enhancing national connectivity. A standout project among these is the Wadhavan Mega Port in Maharashtra, which involves a substantial investment of Rs 76,200 crore. Once completed, this port is expected to be among the top ten globally, thus greatly bolstering India's maritime capabilities. Furthermore, the government has laid the foundation stone for the Shinkhun-La Tunnel, which will connect Ladakh with Himachal Pradesh, reflecting a strong commitment to improving connectivity in strategically important regions.
In the agricultural sector, substantial support has been provided to farmers. The 17th instalment of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi has been disbursed, amounting to Rs 20,000 crore, which has benefitted 9.3 crore farmers. To date, over Rs 3 lakh crore has been allocated to more than 12 crore farmers under this initiative. Additionally, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops for the 2024-25 season has been increased, benefiting around 12 crore farmers with an added Rs 2 lakh crore in support.
For the middle class, the NDA government has introduced several tax relief measures. Income up to Rs 7 lakh is now exempt from taxation, which could result in savings of up to Rs 17,500 for salaried individuals. The standard deduction has been increased to Rs 75,000, and the exemption limit for family pensions has been raised to Rs 25,000. Additionally, a comprehensive review of income tax rules is scheduled to take place within six months to make them more concise, clear, and user-friendly. The government has also implemented a unified pension scheme for government employees, ensuring that those with 25 years of service will receive 50 percent of their average basic salary as a pension.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has been bolstered with the approval of 3 crore new houses, including 1 crore under the urban scheme and 2 crore for rural areas. To date, more than 4 crore houses have been approved for construction in both urban and rural regions across India.
In the realm of women’s empowerment, the government has awarded certificates to 11 lakh new ‘Lakhpati Didis’, with over 1 crore such women now earning more than Rs 1 lakh annually. The MUDRA loan scheme has also seen an increase, with the loan limit raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
For minorities and tribals, significant initiatives have been undertaken. Under the Prime Minister's Developed Tribal Village Campaign, 63,000 tribal villages have been approved for development, aimed at improving the socio-economic status of 5 crore tribals. Additionally, the Namaste scheme has been extended to include waste pickers, along with sanitation workers, enhancing their social and economic empowerment.
The first 100 days have also seen a focus on improving the ease of doing business. Measures include the abolition of the angel tax and a reduction in corporate tax rates. A new Rs 1,000-crore venture capital fund has been set up for startups in the space sector. Furthermore, the Gen-Next Support for Innovation Startups (GENESIS) program has been approved to support startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
Youth empowerment and skill development have been prioritized with the announcement of a Rs 2 lakh crore package, aimed at benefiting 41 million youth over the next five years. Additionally, more than 15,000 new appointments have been made, with first-time employees covered under EPFO receiving an incentive of up to Rs 15,000 in three instalments. In the health sector, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme has been expanded to include all citizens aged 70 and above, offering free insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh. Moreover, 75,000 new medical seats have been added, which is expected to enhance the healthcare system and reduce dependence on foreign medical education. The National Medical Commission is also in the process of preparing a National Medical Register to create a centralized repository of doctors across the country.
