NEW DELHI, JUNE 19 :  Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday chaired the first pre-Budget consultation meeting with leading economists.

The consultation meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance.

The Union Budget 2024-25 is expected to be presented in Parliament next month. In view of the general election, Sitharaman had presented the interim Budget for the current fiscal in February this year.

The forthcoming Budget is expected to lay a blueprint for making India a US$5 trillion economy in coming years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly said that the Indian economy would become the third largest in the world during his third term.

With jobs emerging as a key challenge, the Budget could provide measures to boost employment in the country. The focus on infrastructure is set to continue given its multiplier effect.

The Indian economy has been the fastest-growing major economy in the world and clocked 7.8% year-on-year growth in January-March quarter (Q4) of the financial year 2023-24 on the back of strong performance by sectors such as manufacturing and construction.(UNI)