Page 7 - Union Budget 2016

Smart sarkar plans giant leap from illiteracy to digital literacy

Bill for targeted delivery of subsidies using Aadhaar to be introduced in the current session

Brave new world: Promises of 3-year tax holiday, one-day registration delivered

With Standup India, govt introduces unique affirmative action in start-ups for backward castes

Bond market cheers as government stays course on fiscal discipline

Yield on Government of India bonds falls by 15 basis points, rupee strengthens at 68.41 against the dollar

Tight-fisted Jaitley offers only promises to debt-ridden banks

Rs 25,000 crore may be too little too less for sick PSBs; consolidation, privatisation of IDBI soon

Budget 2016: Allocation doubled to give farmers a sense of security

Two consecutive droughts force govt to raise allocation for agriculture and farmers' welfare by 94%

Market players get mixed bag

STT up on options, 10% tax on dividends for super-rich; FDI cap in bourses trebled to 15%

As Budget fails to lift stocks, it's back to global cues

Like any Budget Day, the stock prices gyrated, and the Sensex swung 850 points, touching a low of 22,495 and a high of 23,343

No big bang measures

Focus on rural economy, infra, affordable housing should help; but fiscal deficit goal challenging

Govt eyes re-election in its tilt to farms

Promises gas connection to below poverty line families, power and road connectivity to all villages by 2018-19

FM bets on disinvestment, spectrum and strategic sales revenue

Govt to adopt a comprehensive approach for efficient management of its investment in CPSEs

Belt tightening: Jaitley sticks to fiscal prudence

To set up committee to re-assess statutory targets

Foreign Direct Investment: Rules eased for insurance, pension, securities and NBFCs

Instead of FIPB, Irdai can now approve increase in FDI in insurance

Challenging fiscal arithmetic: Devendra Pant

The reaction from bond and currency markets to the Budget was very positive: bond prices surged, yields fell and currency appreciated

Not a bold enough move: Sumit Dutt Majumdar

The Budget reflects a perceptible shift in the government's strategy

My Budget: Neil Nitin Mukesh

What is the best thing about the Budget?It is pro-poor. There is an effort to allocate more resources to deal with the agrarian crisis. I am also in favour of digital literacy, road connectivity, electricity, and housing schemes in rural areas.The worst?The opportunity of introducing industry-friendly initiatives to reduce the cost of running businesses is missing.Will it lead to acchhe din for the common man?There should have been a tax framework that puts greater disposable income in the hands of consumers.Will BJP gain politically from the Budget?Modi's image as a supporter of big business has been there. This Budget has changed that.If you were finance minister, what would you change?I would announce reforms that make India more business-friendly, hacking away at obstructive laws.Neil Nitin MukeshActor

Rahul Khullar: The devil is in the detail

The four main non-tax revenues are: disinvestment proceeds (capital receipts); interest; dividends from PSUs and PSBs as well as surplus of RBI; and revenues from the telecom sector

Arun Jaitley's Budget 2016: A view from the visitor's gallery

Aditi Phadnis brings us a ringside view of the reactions Jaitley's speech generated in Parliament

Household budget: Cars, branded clothes, air travel to cost more

Cess introduced on several goods, services to add to tax revenue kitty

Budget Nuts & Bolts

NHAI to raise Rs 15,000 crore through bondsNational Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will raise Rs 15,000 crore through bonds in 2016-17. This will add to the government's efforts to boost roads and highways capacity in line with the rapid rise in road construction. India's highest-ever kilometerage of new highways were awarded in 2015.Total infrastructure outlay stands at Rs 2.2 lakh croreThe outlay for the infrastructure sector in 2016-17 is Rs 221,000 crore. This includes Rs 218,000 crore of outlay for the roads and the railways sectors put together. More than 10,000 km of new highways will be awarded in 2016-17. Also, more than 50,000 km of state highways will be taken up for upgradation.Rural jobs scheme gets Rs 38,500 croreA sum of Rs 38,500 crore has been allocated for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in 2016-17. Under the scheme, cluster facilitation teams will be set up to ensure water conservation and natural resource management, to tackle issues o

I would rather be conservative in my targets and improve: Arun Jaitley

Interview with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Budget 2016