Page 2 - Budget And Infrastructure

What Indian Railways achieved in FY25? Economic Survey sheds light

Between April and October 2024, Indian Railways launched 17 new pairs of Vande Bharat trains and manufactured 228 new coaches, keeping pace with last year's expansion

Govt capex rose 8.2% from July-Nov 2024, led by defence, railways, roads

Economic Survey 2025: Government capex on key infrastructure has grown by 38.8% over the past five years

What products and services may see their prices change in Budget 2025?

The Finance Minister is expected to prioritise economic growth, domestic manufacturing, and offer relief to consumers in the upcoming budget to address inflation, fiscal consolidation, and job creatio

Industries across fields expect host of measures in Budget to propel growth

With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman preparing to present the first full Budget of the Modi 3.0 government, industry players from various fields have put forth their demands for raising income tax limits, taking measures for more job creation, and further improving doing business to propel growth. The industry is hopeful that the government will announce a slew of measures to boost consumption by ensuring more money in the hands of people, boosting capital expenditure, giving relief to the housing sector and technological innovations. Moin Ladha, Partner at Khaitan & Co, opined that with the Union Budget 2025 fast approaching, the industry as a whole is confident of some interesting changes to the regulatory landscape, particularly changes to foreign investment policy, streamlined compliance, and key policy changes in certain sectors. One such key change that the Budget 2025 may bring is the introduction of 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector, .

Govt likely to shift focus to railways from road transport in infra push

Govt has ramped up infrastructure spending, particularly on the road network, since the pandemic to drive economic growth, but execution challenges could see the focus shift to the railways

Infra needs Rs 15 trn annual outlay for 'Viksit Bharat' goal: Mandaviya

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said the government's infrastructure investment budget should be Rs 15 lakh crore per annum, against Rs 11.5 lakh crore at present, for the next 25 years to achieve 'Viksit Bharat @2047' and social security for all. This assumes significance in view of India's 100 years of independence in 2047 and the government's goal of 'Viksit Bharat@2047'. Addressing the inaugural of ISSA-ESIC International Seminar 'Formalization & Social Security Coverage for Workers in the Informal Sector Challenges & Innovation', Mandaviya stated that the infrastructure investment budget was Rs 1.2 lakh crore in 2012 and this budget was Rs 2.4 lakh crore in 2014 under the Narendra Modi-led government. "In 2024, the budget has been pegged at Rs 11.5 lakh crore. We have to take it to Rs 15 lakh crore. When the government will invest Rs 15 lakh crore on infrastructure for the next 25 years, only then India will become a developed country (by 2047)," he said. He ...

Infra development key to achieving Viksit Bharat goal: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said infrastructure development is imperative to achieve the goal of Viksit Bahrat, as the economy depends on good transport and communication facilities. "The Prime Minister has given us a mission of developed and prosperous India. If we have to achieve a Viksit Bharat, we will have to improve the country's infrastructure. "Until water, power, transport, and communication do not develop, industry, business, and tourism will not get a boost," Gadkari said, addressing a rally after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sonamarg tunnel here. The Union Minister said Modi has taken a pledge to develop J-K along with the country. "He has given us the task of developing this infrastructure. Good roads make a country developed and prosperous. We are working on a mission to make J-K developed and prosperous so that industries are established here, tourism increases, employment opportunities are created for the youth and poverty is eradicated. W

Budget FY26: Goldman Sachs highlights focus on fiscal deficit, growth

India's elevated public debt-to-GDP ratio remains a concern. A reduction in the general fiscal deficit from 8 per cent in FY25 to 7 per cent by FY30 is critical to keeping public debt sustainable

CM Nitish Kumar unveils Rs 1,107 crore development projects in Madhubani

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled developmental projects worth Rs 1,107 crore in Madhubani district on Sunday. Kumar inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 139 projects in the district. He also announced that the state government would urge the Centre to start flight services from the Madhubani airport under the UDAN scheme. The CM chaired a meeting at Mithila Haat in the Jhanjharpur area to review the ongoing developmental schemes in the district. District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Verma gave a detailed presentation about the ongoing projects and schemes, including the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, CM Nishchay Self Help Allowance Scheme, CM Rural Solar Street Light and CM Agricultural Electricity Connection Scheme, a statement said. The CM instructed the officials to resolve the issues raised by the elected representatives in the meeting at the earliest, it added. Kumar also inspected the Saksham Anganwadi Center in Durgipatti village of Khutauna block. During th

Gujarat CM approves Rs 188 crore for road safety measures, upgrades

This funding will support 76 projects over a total length of 786.41 kilometres. This decision by CM Patel is expected to significantly reduce road accidents in the state, ensuring safer transportation

NFRA to release 7 papers to help stakeholders ask key audit questions

To enhance the quality and the level of interactions between auditors and companies' audit committees, NFRA chief Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey has said the watchdog plans to come out with six to seven papers having sets of questions that will cover various aspects of statutory audits. "The papers will also help the stakeholders in asking the right questions related to audits," he told PTI. Constituted in October 2018, the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has been making efforts to improve audit quality and has passed over 80 orders against various entities for auditing lapses. "These papers will also act as a guidance for companies' audit committees, independent directors, and board of directors in understanding the nuances as well as critical aspects of auditing," the NFRA Chairperson said. In the planned series, the first paper on 'Audit of Accounting Estimates and Judgments Part 1: Expected Credit Losses (ECL) under Ind AS 109' was issued on January 10. "NFRA plans t

CII calls for fuel excise cut, consumption vouchers to boost demand

Industry body CII in its budget suggestions for 2025-26 has recommended lowering the excise duty on fuel to boost consumption, especially at the lower income level, arguing that fuel prices significantly drive inflation. The budget could also consider reducing marginal tax rates for personal income up to Rs 20 lakh per annum. This would help trigger the virtuous cycle of consumption, higher growth and higher tax revenue, said CII. Asserting that the gap between the highest marginal rate for individuals at 42.74 per cent and the normal Corporate Tax Rate at 25.17 per cent, is high, it said, inflation has reduced the buying power of lower and middle-income earners. "The central excise duty alone accounts for approximately 21 per cent of the retail price for petrol and 18 per cent for diesel. Since May 2022, these duties have not been adjusted in line with the approximately 40 per cent decrease in global crude prices. Lowering excise duty on fuel would help reduce overall inflation and

States' sops may divert resources away from infra development: RBI article

Sops announced by several states in their 2024-25 Budgets may divert resources away from critical social and economic infrastructure development, an RBI article said on Tuesday. The gross fiscal deficit as per cent of budget estimate moderated in April-September 2024-25 over H1:2023-24 in case of both Centre and states, primarily on account of robust receipts, deceleration in their revenue expenditure growth and decline in capital expenditure, the article published in December RBI Bulletin said. This provides fiscal room to them to boost capex in the latter half of 2024-25 which would aid in sustaining the post pandemic gains in expenditure quality and support medium-term growth prospects. However, several states have announced sops in their 2024-25 Budgets; such spending may divert resources away from critical social and economic infrastructure development, it said. Many states, including Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand have announced sops including free electricity to

Bihar receives record Rs 1.81 trillion investment proposals, says minister

"Ab humara samay hai" - The time for Bihar has come, said state's Industries and Tourism Minister Nitish Mishra after it received a record Rs 1.81 lakh crore worth of investment proposals in its only second investor meet. Mishra said the focus will now shift to providing all the promised support to the investors so that the units could start quickly. "I am very happy personally and very satisfied, and I am thankful to my team in the industry department who has been for the last few months working on their toes, holding a series of events in different states, interacting with the business community, trying to pitch Bihar and the advantage Bihar," he said. The state signed with an array of companies' memorandum of understanding (MoUs), committing Rs 1.81 lakh crore of investment at the second edition of the Bihar Business Connect investor summit last week. "To be very honest, even we were not expecting this kind of figure," he said. "From now on it will be the emergence of a new ...

Key infra sectors' growth drops to 3.1% in Oct from 12.7% last year

The eight core sectors contribute 40.27 per cent to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) which measures overall industrial growth

90 infra projects worth Rs 3,417 cr sanctioned for North East over 4 yrs

The responsibility to sanction the infrastructure development projects in the North Eastern Region lie with the respective state governments, while the ministry maintains oversight

India's 26 major realty firms sell Rs 35,000 cr worth properties in Q2

India's 26 major listed real estate firms have sold properties worth nearly Rs 35,000 crore during the September quarter with Godrej Properties reporting highest sales bookings. According to the data compiled from regulatory filings, the 26 major listed realty firms have reported a combined sales bookings of Rs 34,985 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. Bulk of pre-sales (sales bookings) came from residential segment. In terms of sales bookings, Godrej Properties emerged as the largest listed player during July-September quarter with pre-sales of Rs 5,198 crore. Mumbai-based Macrotech Developers Ltd, which sells properties under the Lodha brand, reported sales bookings of Rs 4,290 crore during the quarter under review. Delhi-NCR-based Max Estates sold properties worth Rs 4,100 crore, while Bengaluru-based Prestige Estates Projects Ltd clocked sales bookings of Rs 4,022.6 crore during the quarter. Delhi-NCR based Signature Global achieved sales bookings of Rs 2

Challenges and opportunities loom in equal measure ahead of FY26 Budget

While the formal meetings of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with various stakeholders seeking their wishlist for Budget 2026 is expected to begin next month, the budget-making exercise is gaining

Festival season lifts retail auto sales by 12%, two-wheelers top demand

Dealers' association expects inventory to reduce, helped by sales during weddings

Maharashtra secured 52% national investment under BJP, says Fadnavis

However, Fadnavis claimed that with the formation of the new government, Maharashtra quickly regained its position at number 1. Citing the latest RBI report, he pointed out that Maharashtra