Budget 2024 Live Updates: What’s Cheaper & What’s Dearer; Check Full List Here – News18

Last Updated: February 01, 2024, 07:15 IST

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament today, February 1, 2024. (File Photo)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament today. This is Sitharaman’s fifth Budget and current government’s last Union Budget before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Budget 2024 Cheaper Dearer Full List: As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the 2024 Interim Budget of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government on Thursday, February 1, we are all curious to know what items are set to become more affordable and what are probably going to tweak our expenses.

From 2019 to 2023: What Got Cheaper & What Got Costlier

Budget 2023-2024

  • Cheaper: TVs, smartphones, compressed gas, shrimp feed, lab-grown diamonds, machinery for manufacturing lithium-ion cells for EVs
  • Costlier: Cigarettes, bicycles, imitation jewellery, air travel, electric chimney, copper scrap, textiles

Budget 2022-2023

  • Cheaper: Imitation jewellery, computers, mobile phones, laptops, cut and polished diamonds, gems
  • Costlier: Umbrellas, imported items, unblended fuel, chocolates, smartwatches and their earbuds

Budget 2021-2022

  • Cheaper: Gold, silver, leather products, nylon clothes, products made of iron, steel and copper
  • Costlier: Solar cells, mobile phones and chargers, imported gems and precious stones, imported AC and fridge compressors, imported auto parts

Budget 2020-2021

  • Cheaper: Raw sugar, skimmed milk, soya fibre, soya protein, certain alcoholic beverages, agro-animal based products, import of newsprint, lightweight and coated paper, purified terephthalic acid
  • Costlier: Medical equipment, footwear, furniture, wall fans, cigarettes and other tobacco products, clay iron, steel, copper, CV parts

Budget 2019-2020

  • Cheaper: Affordable houses, set-top boxes, imported defence equipment, imported parts of EVs, camera modules, mobile phone chargers, imported raw material for making artificial kidneys, imported wool fibre, wool tops
  • Costlier: Petrol, diesel, cash withdrawal over Rs 1 crore a year, fully-imported cars, split ACs, cigarettes, hookah and chewing tobacco products, imported auto parts, imported stainless steel products, imported gold and other precious metals, imported paper and paper products including printed books, imported plugs, sockets and switches, CTV cameras, loudspeakers

What is an Interim Budget?

Interim Budget, also known as Vote on Account, is a budget presented by the central government for a short period of time ahead of general elections. During an election year, the incumbent government cannot present a full budget, therefore, the Union Finance Minister present an Interim Budget on behalf of the government that covers the Centre’s expenses and revenues for a short period. This budget stands valid till a new government is elected and takes charge.

When Will Full Budget Be Released?

The full Budget will be released after the newly formed government takes over following the Lok Sabha election results. The government will then present a Union Budget which will be its comprehensive financial plan presented annually, outlining the government’s revenue, expenditure, and policy initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year.