"India's Fiscal Deficit Shrinks to 5.1% Amid Infrastructure Boost and Pre-Election Budget"

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the country's fiscal deficit for 2025 is expected to narrow to 5.1% while boosting infrastructure spending, with capital expenditure set to rise by 11.1% to 11.11 trillion rupees. She emphasized the development of air connectivity and highlighted the potential of the India-Middle East-European Union corridor as a "gamechanger." Long-term interest-free loans will be given to states for tourist center development, and the interim budget also focuses on poverty, youth, women, and farmers. The budget is seen as a stop-gap financial plan during an election year, with the full union budget to be released after the elections.