Budget 2024: Shifting from Amrit Kaal to Kartavya Kaal for a Developed India

Abstract

The discussion in this research paper is focused on the transition from the time set by the outside entities and defined as “Amrit Kaal” for this study to another time called “Kartavya Kaal” according to India’s Budget session 2024. The paper also calculates how this shift in the policy discourse concerns accountability which is development formed to mobilise the change in line with the vision 2047 of Viksit Bharat. Since the study employs a qualitative case study research strategy, it focuses on the major sectors in health care, infrastructural development, and business. Based on the findings discussed in the paper, it can be argued that, in addition to acknowledged advancements that improved healthcare care access and the future development of the new medical colleges, greater effort has to be made to build up the healthcare provisions to contribute to positive changes and decrease the gap according to the regions’ factors. Thus, the amendment in the fiscal year from ‘Amrit Kaal’ to ‘Kartavya Kaal’ points to a new spot in the Indian economic policy which has now shifted from the realm of accomplishment to a positive work of responsibility. Therefore, depending on the three key axes of healthcare, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship, the government aims to create all the necessary prerequisites for inclusive and sustained development in accordance with the idea of an India of the future on the centenary of its independence in 2047.

Keywords: Union Budget 2024, Viksit Bharat, Amrit Kaal, Kartavya Kaal.

Introduction:

The 2024 Budget of India, which was presented by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, marks a transition from the period called ‘Amrit Kaal’ to the ‘Kartavya Kaal’ as envisaged by PM Narendra Modi to make India a more responsible nation and contribute to sustainable development. This is the case of shifting from the concept called “Amrit Kaal,” which was coined as a period of vision and advancement up till India’s one hundred years of independence in 2047 to what is known as “Kartavya Kaal” that imposes obligations on the government and the citizens and or people of India in the achievement of developmental goals of the country.As such, it remains the purpose of this research paper to analyse this shift most especially in thematic areas that touch on healthcare, infrastructure as well as entrepreneurial activities. The 2024 Budget spends billions towards the operationalization of the Indira Awas Yojana to improve the healthcare delivery, construction of roads and bridges for better connectivity and to rejuvenate entrepreneurship to realize the dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047. For example, the government’s agenda of setting up new medical colleges and enhancing the health facilities is expected to focus on the major issue of inadequate health care facilities especially in the rural areas.Also, the allocations for various projects depicting infrastructure development through the government’s new program, namely PM Gati Shakti would help in boosting connectivity and thus the economic growth and social inclusion. The advancement of individuals and growth of small scale businesses are supposed to let the government help those in need while promoting development.Based on this review of these initiatives, this paper will aspire to reveal how the framework of ‘Kartavya Kaal’ can facilitate the adequate social and economic change in India whilst preventing disparity in the socio-economic distribution amongst the population. Altogether, the present study adds to the existing literature for India in its transition towards the state of a developed country by the year 2047.

Literature Review

The change of era from “Amrit Kaal” to ”Kartavya Kaal” in India’s 2024 Budget reflects an intentional shift of a government’s direction towards economic advancement and human progress, which entails everyone taking his/her due share of responsibility. Based on the following three sources analyzed in this literature review, insights into this transition and how it has shaped India’s development trajectory are provided.

1. Interim Budget 2024-2025: From Amrit Kaal to Kartavya Kaal

The realization of healthcare as the central constituent of the “Kartavya Kaal” structure is explicitly underlined in the article published in Business Standard. The article addresses the need for better accessibility and provided meanings of developmental advancements in healthcare today such as establishing even more medical colleges and better connection. They show that if a country’s healthcare system is strong, does not only influence the population’s health status but also aids in creating employment opportunities and economic development. The author makes a comparison with developed nations including Singapore where health care is well-fostered as a sector in the nation’s economy and makes a strong call on India to borrow a leaf to strategically develop the health sector as a means of putti As for the strengths of this source, it demonstrates the interaction between the healthcare concern and the economic development convincingly However, it does not explain the details of the potential issues that may be encountered in the course of implementation, which this study hopes to fill.

2. Budget 2024: What is 'Kartavya Kaal'; how it is related to 'Amrit Kaal'

An article from the Deccan Herald offers all the necessary information on the Kartavya Kaal notion as presented in the 2024 Budget. Recall, that it emphasizes the government’s desire to bolster the economy and provide circumstances in which people could achieve their dreams. The article focuses on how the change between ‘Amrit Kaal’ and ‘Kartavya Kaal’ is a shift in form which devotes its energy to duties and obligations with governance and economics at its core. The article also discusses the government’s plan and approach, however, the detailed examination of the impact of this change on particular fields or possible challenges to the realization of the set objectives are given insufficient attention. The current research is unable to fully reconcile the inconsistencies outlined above, and hence this gap is worthy of further research.

3. Amrit Kaal, Kartavya Kaal: Centre's White Paper on Economy in 10 Points

The government’s white paper on the Indian economy provides a comprehensive overview of the development from 2014 to2024 within the luminous perspective of Amrit Kaal and Kartavya Kaal The report covers major accomplishments of the government which involves the passing of GST act and a tremendous improvement in capital expenditure. Although the paper stresses on the government’s promise of inclusive growth and its principles of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ the white paper suffers from the lack of actual examples or statistical data to support the essays More precisely, aiming at presenting the sphere’s improvements, the white paper does not mention case studies of the targeted initiatives, which this research is designed to offer focusing on the 2024 Budget .

Altogether, these sources indicate how broad shift from the “Amrit Kaal” to the “Kartavya Kaal” entails multiple levels of importance and the government’s focus on the development of sustainable health care, the administration, and the growth of society.

Methodology

This research uses a qualitative case study method to examine the socio-economic consequences of moving from ‘Amrit Kaal’ to ‘Kartavya Kaal’ as envisaged in the Indian 2024 Budget. The paper’s research design entails the examination of major strategies in the field of health, construction, and innovation, using several documents, including budgets, reports, and interviews. The results are discussed in terms of developing a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 and the study’s limitations include generalizability and data availability.

Results

This paper examines the 2024 Budget as well as the shift from the ‘Amrit Kaal’ to the ‘Kartavya Kaal’ and brings forth several insight into the government’s journey to realizing the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

Infrastructure Development:

The 2024 Budget entails a significant allocation of money for infrastructure development. This is to improve the ease of business and connectivity. Key Projects include:

It would add 12,000 km more to the National Highways network.

Completion of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).

The construction and operation of 100 new heliports and airports will be invested in with ₹ 1.5 trillion.

It is expected that this infrastructural move will result in millions of jobs created and in investments in the improvement of economic development and growth.

2. Social Equity cum Welfare.

This budget structure, therefore, places greater emphasis on social equity and welfare by increasing allocations made for programs aiming at marginalized communities and vulnerable groups. Notable initiatives include:

Work guarantee to every rural household through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Increased funding towards Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to accommodate low-income families with housing.

Use of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi 2.0 to provide income support to small and marginal farmers.

3. Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The budget also focuses on creating an entrepreneurial and innovative society to spur economic growth. Some of the critical programs envisaged are:

Setting up 50 new Atal Tinkering Labs in schools for inculcating STEM education and innovation.

Introduce the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM VIKAS) scheme to provide skill development and entrepreneurship support for traditional artisans/craftspeople.

₹10,000 crore has been committed to the Startup India Seed Fund for supporting startups at early stages of their development.

These measures can be seen as a way to create a good environment for entrepreneurship and to boost the development of SMEs. her welfare measures reduce poverty, improve living standards, and promote inclusive growth.

4. Fiscal Consolidation and Sustainability

Fiscal consolidation and sustainability of the budget have been the two pillars, and augmentation of tax revenue at the cost of curtailing expenditure is considered to have taken the center stage. Main initiatives include:

Introduce goods and services tax 2.0, rationalize tax structures, and enhance compliance.

It would further reduce new manufacturing corporate taxes to 15% and existing firms to 22%.

Disinvestment of public sector enterprises to generate revenue and improve efficiency.

It is these measures that are projected to yield a stable and predictable fiscal environment conducive to long-term growth and development.

Findings underline that the shift from "Amrit Kaal" to "Kartavya Kaal" is, in fact, a changing trajectory of India's economic policy framework. The 2024 Budget lined out big drivers like infrastructure, social equity, entrepreneurship, and fiscal consolidation towards furthering growth and development. The campaign will be a part of the holistic approach toward realizing the dream of a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047, where it will help the creation of millions of jobs, attract investments, and foster growth for all.

But effectiveness of these plans, undertakings, and initiatives will all revolve around execution, monitoring, and review. The possible challenges that come up in this area include red tape, corruption, and lack of coordination among several stakeholders. Moreover, long-term sustainability will depend on how the government ensures fiscal discipline and keeps up with the changing economic scenario.

Discussion

The results from the analysis of the 2024 Budget, from "Amrit Kaal" to "Kartavya Kaal," are steeped with a strategic turn in India's economic policy, touting accountability and collective responsibility. It is in the light of this commitment towards building inclusive growth and accomplishing the vision of "Viksit Bharat" by 2047 that heavy investment in infrastructure, social equity, and entrepreneurship ensues. This also addresses the research question on how this policy shift influences fiscal policies and socio-economic development. The findings suggest that it is by addressing these areas that the government intends to create an economy that will be in a more strategic position to address the challenges emerging from a rapidly transforming world .

The findings have important implications for various stakeholders, including policymakers, businesses, and civil society. Accountability and collective responsibility—emphasized by "Kartavya Kaal" for policymakers—imply a scaling of the demand for better coordination between government agencies, local authorities, and communities regarding the effective implementation of initiatives. This paper opens up future avenues for further research toward long-term effects of the "Kartavya Kaal" framework across different demographic groups and sectors. An empirical insight showing the effectiveness of some initiatives—like PM-VIKAS scheme or Startup India Seed Fund—would go a long way in eliciting valuable lessons and areas of improvement.

Limitations:

Despite all the insights that have been earned from this study, a few limitations need to be discussed. First, since this research is qualitative in nature, findings cannot be generalized across all contexts or populations.The research does not take into account any exogenous factors that might have resulted from global economic conditions or domestic political dynamics. Equally, these may present challenges to the implementation of all initiatives proposed in the budget. Further studies in this regard should take these dimensions into consideration for a full understanding of the implications of the "Kartavya Kaal" framework on the trajectory of development in India.

While it opens massive opportunities for the socio-economic development of India, all shall need careful monitoring and adaptive strategies to turn them into reality from "Amrit Kaal" to "Kartavya Kaal".

Conclusion

The step down from "Amrit Kaal" to "Kartavya Kaal" enshrined in the 2024 Budget assumes great significance in India's economic policy framework. The fact that it gave space to infrastructure, social equity, enterprise, and fiscal consolidation sets the enabling environment for sustainable and inclusive growth. Connectivity is one imperative of this plan; in health, more so, as this has been increasing access to essential services and therefore promoting economic development.

In the event, these two agendas are certain to succeed if the initiatives are effectively implemented, coordinated among available different stakeholders, and continuously adapted to the changing circumstances. The challenges that may impede attaining above-stated aspirations are bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, and external shocks. However, the fact that all-round development is really a concern for the government, as reflected in the "Kartavya Kaal" approach, indicates that it will do everything possible to overcome the challenges coming in the way so that the benefits of economic growth reach all sections.

The transition from "Amrit Kaal" to "Kartavya Kaal" therefore becomes an important milestone when India embarks on its journey towards a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047. Through a culture of accountability, collaboration, and collective responsibility, it looks toward a citizen empowerment-based, innovation-rich, and all-country Sustainable Development Mileage under the Government. The impact of this change will be huge; it has the potential to alter India's economic landscape and make the country a world leader in coming decades.

References:

Preetha Reddy, Interim Budget 2024-2025: From Amrit Kaal to Kartavya Kaal, BUSINESS STANDARD, February 2, 2024.
DH web desk, Budget 2024: ‘Kartavya Kaal’; how it is related to ‘Amrit Kaal’, Deccan Herald, February 1, 2024.
Pooja Paswan, Charting a Visionary course: Analyzing India’s Interim Budget-‘Amrit Kaal as Kartavya Kaal’, PA TIMES, February 12, 2024.
Supra note 1.
Supra note 2.
HT News Desk; Amrit Kaal, Kartavya Kaal: Centre’s white paper on economy in 10 points, Hindustan Times, February 8, 2024.
Supra note 1.
PIB Delhi, Press release, February 1 2023 https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1895313
Nirmala Sitaraman, speech for Budget 2024-2025, July 23, 2024 https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/budget_speech.pdf
Supra note 6