NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2023 speech on Wednesday made the lawmakers in the lower house of Parliament burst into a peel of laughter over her “slip of the tongue”. ‘The live telecast of FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2023 speech on Sansad TV showed a majority of ruling NDA MPs bursting into laughter the moment she said “Replacing the old political” in place of ”replacing old polluting vehicles.’’

The Finance Minister, however, was quick to realise her mistake and improvised by saying, “Replacing old polluting vehicles is an important part of greening our economy.” Finance Minister, briefly paused and continued her speech with a smile and stressed that ”vehicle replacement is an important ongoing policy.”

“In furtherance of Vehicle Scrapping Policy mentioned in the Budget 2021-22… states will also be supported,” she added.

The Union Finance Minister earlier announced several big initiatives to boost the growth rate and the national economy. Among other major initiatives, the FM announced that states and cities will be encouraged to take up urban planning.

FM Sitharaman said that all cities and towns will be enabled for 100 per cent transition of sewers and septic tanks from “manhole to machine” hole mode. Cities will also be encouraged to increase creditworthiness for municipal bonds, the Finance Minister said.

The government launched the Smart Cities Mission on 25 June 2015. Hundred of smart cities had been selected through four rounds of competition from January 2016 to June 2018.

The world has recognised India as a bright star as the country is recording healthy economic growth despite global uncertainties, Finance Minister Sitharaman said as she began her Union Budget speech in parliament.

India’s growth at 7 per cent in the current fiscal is the highest among major economies and the Indian economy is on the right track, she said in her Budget speech. In the 75th year of Independence, the world has recognised India as a bright star, the minister said, adding the world appreciates India’s achievements.

The economy is pegged to grow by 7 per cent in FY23 (2022-23) and by 6.5 per cent (6.0-6.8 per cent) in FY24 as the global environment remains rife with uncertainty.