New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (February 1) said that the government's debt has reduced from 52.2% to 48.9% while presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha.

During her speech in Parliament, the finance minister who said, "Government debt came down to 48.9% from 52.2%," also added that "our people should be gainfully employed, our businesses should be healthy, for all minorities, women and people from SCs and STs. This Budget aims to fulfil their aspirations."

"With renewed vigour, under PM's leadership, we commit ourselves to present the people of India with all humility and dedication. People have reposed faith in our economic policy," she stated at the beginning of her address.

Earlier, the office of the minister of state for finance tweeted an image of a rare book amongst the oldest books in the Budget Press library- a compilation of Budget speeches of Union finance ministers comprising two volumes.

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"On the eve of #Budget2020, we're sharing..amongst the oldest books in the #Budget Press Library; it narrates India's economic transition since 1947. The Budget Speech is perhaps the most guarded of all speeches, undergoing multiple drafts till its made public!" the office of Anurag Thakur tweeted.

This will be the second budget for Sitharaman, who became the second woman finance minister after Indira Gandhi to do so in the history of independent India.