(MENAFN- Live Mint) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025 that a customs cleanup was her next big assignment for India.

The FM was in a conversation with editor-in-chief at Hindustan Times, R Sukumar, at the 23rd edition of the HTLS, where she answered what's coming next for India.

FM interview: Concerned about budget, says FM on freebies

Speaking about freebies during election promises, Sitharaman said,“Some states borrow, high cost loans, to dole out freebies. We are talking to state ministries on how they can restructure loans to manage.”

She said that she was concerned about the fact that the budget of these states will not be able to afford the freebies, adding that the Centre was speaking with them about any help on restricting debt.

FM interview: Sitharaman lists hurdles govt has overcome

Speaking at the HTLS 2025, the FM listed out the challenges the government has overcome have overcome as a country over the years

• Growth after Covid
• Impact of wars like on foodgrains and more as“we have had trouble with our borders”
• Spending on the one year of election
• Restoration of Jammu and Kashmir banks as well as the region's Restoration economy after the pahalgam attack.

Customs cleanup coming soon, says FM

Speaking at the HTLS 2025 ahead of Budget 2026, FM Nirmala Sitharaman said that an overhaul of customs sale is on the cards.“'Customs is my next big cleaning up assignment,” she said ahead of the Budget.

HTLS 2025: Who are the speakers today?

The speakers at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025 on 6 December include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, CJI Justice Surya Kant, EAM S. Jaishankar, Bharti Airter Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, Indian women's cricket team coach Amol Muzumdar, cricketer Deepti Sharma, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Prof. James K. Galbraith, Michael Kugelman, Kate Sullivan de Estrada, Google DeepMind executive Pushmeet Kohli, and actors Aamir Khan Hugh Grant.

Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025: What is the theme this year?

The Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025 is underway, with the biggest event of Hindustan Times Group. The theme;“Transforming Tomorrow”, captures the spirit of innovation, resilience, and reinvention defining our era.

MENAFN06122025007365015876ID1110444803