How was Budget 2023? What impact will it have on different sectors? Watch Business Standard's in-house experts share their first impressions of the Budget.

Union Budget 2023: First impressions of the Budget

From AI-powered systems to smart mobility aids, the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) is gearing up to introduce a new lineup of assistive technologies designed for persons with disabilities, featuring integrated artificial intelligence components.
The innovations were detailed during ALIMCO's recently held Annual General Meeting for FY 2024-?25, where officials unveiled a series of products under development and nearing rollout.
A public sector undertaking under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, ALIMCO is set to introduce these AI-enabled products as part of a broader vision for inclusive and affordable innovation, senior officials said.
"True empowerment begins with access to technology that enhances independence and dignity. At ALIMCO, we are leveraging AI and indigenous innovation to build a future where no one is left behind," said Praveen Kumar, CMD, ALIMCO.
For FY 2025-?26, the corporation is preparing to launch another wa

The innovations were detailed during ALIMCO's recently held Annual General Meeting for FY 2024-25, where officials unveiled a series of products under development and nearing rollout

Brands catering to wealthier Indians have weathered a high cost-of-living-led slowdown in consumer spending, as the affluent continue to splurge on comforts and luxuries

This year's exhibition will of course feature the hardware required to bring artificial intelligence to life

Microsoft acknowledged Thursday that it sold advanced artificial intelligence and cloud computing services to the Israeli military during the war in Gaza and aided in efforts to locate and rescue Israeli hostages. But the company also said it has found no evidence to date that its Azure platform and AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza.
The unsigned blog post on Microsoft's corporate website appears to be the company's first public acknowledgement of its deep involvement in the war, which started after Hamas killed about 1,200 people in Israel and has led to the deaths of tens of thousands in Gaza.
It comes nearly three months after an investigation by The Associated Press revealed previously unreported details about the American tech giant's close partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, with military use of commercial AI products skyrocketing by nearly 200 times after the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The AP reported that the Israeli military use

An unsigned post on Microsoft's site marks its first public admission of deep involvement in the war that began after Hamas killed 1,200 in Israel and has since claimed tens of thousands in Gaza

As many as 13 people, including four children, were killed in a massive fire that broke out at a building in Gulzar House near the historic Charminar on Sunday.
A senior official of a private hospital here told PTI that eight people were brought dead.
Unfortunately 8 patients were brought dead to Yashoda Hospital, Malakpet, hospital sources said.
The deceased include two childrenaged two and seven besides three women, the sources said.
Apollo Hospitals in a statement said they received five people with burn and inhalation injuries and all were declared brought dead.
All these victims had severe burns and inhalation injuries and could not be revived. Death was declared. Our ambulance team continues to remain on site to rescue any further victims.  We are providing maximum support to the families of victims in this difficult time, Apollo Hospitals said.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad.
He anno

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has invited the ire of passengers by charging higher fares for electric buses with the same features and facilities by giving them different brand names and colours.
Experts and passengers have criticised the state-run corporation for the disparity in fares on the electric Shivneri and Shivai buses.
The MSRTC, the country's largest state-run transport undertaking, operates a fleet of nearly 15,000 buses, ranging from non-AC services to premium air-conditioned electric coaches.
In January this year, the Maharashtra State Transport Authority (STA) approved a 14.95 per cent hike in the MSRTC bus fares.
The corporation charges Rs 21.25 per 6 km on blue 'E-Shivneri' buses and Rs 15.15 for the white-green 'E-Shivai', both built on the Olectra CX2 platform that serves various intercity routes in Maharashtra since inducted in its fleet on a gross cost contract (GCC) model.
According to MSRTC sources, the E-Shivneri fleet primarily .

Experts and passengers have criticised the state-run corporation for the disparity in fares on the electric Shivneri and Shivai buses

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday presented a Rs 40,187 crore-budget for the megapolis.
Infrastructure spends across projects have been pegged at Rs 35,151 crore or 87 per cent of the overall expenditure, as per an official statement. The revenues have been estimated at Rs 36,939 crore, and the body chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be borrowing Rs 22,000 crore.
This will result in a budget deficit of Rs 3,249 crore, which the body plans to bridge through land sales, issuance of bonds, financial assistance from the government, and loans from financial institutions, the statement said.
The ongoing metro line projects have been earmarked Rs 10,969 crore of expenditure in the new fiscal, which is a fourth of the overall expenditure..
Over Rs 5,697 crore have been allotted for multiple tunnel projects which are going across the megapolis, with Rs 2,684 crore earmarked for the four-lane road running under the Sanjay Gandhi National 

Infrastructure spends across projects have been pegged at Rs 35,151 crore or 87 per cent of the overall expenditure, as per an official statement

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday returned the Finance Bill 2025 to the Lok Sabha, along with 35 government amendments, including one that abolishes a 6 per cent digital tax on online advertisements, thus completing the 2025-26 budgetary exercise that started on February 1.
The House also returned the Appropriation Bill (3) with a voice vote.
Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had moved the two bills in the House.
The Lok Sabha had passed the Finance Bill on March 25 and passed the Appropriation Bill on March 21.
Replying to the debate later in the evening, she said the tendency of the finance ministry would be to exercise caution and not let go of revenues.
"But, here we wanted to use this opportunity to show our respect for Indian taxpayer. We have moved towards setting Rs 12 lakh as threshold up to which no one will have to pay any tax," Sitharaman said.
The Union Budget 2025-26 envisages a total expenditure of Rs 50.65 lakh crore, an increase of 7.4 per cent ov

The Union Budget 2025-26 envisages a total expenditure of Rs 50.65 trillion, an increase of 7.4 per cent over the current fiscal

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Union Budget 2023: First impressions of the Budget

How was Budget 2023? What impact will it have on different sectors? Watch Business Standard's in-house experts share their first impressions of the Budget.

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