Budget-2009

Just 140 days back, I had the privilege to present the Interim Budget for 2009-10. It is a rare honour that I have been called upon to present the regular budget after the new government assumed office.

Continuing its thrust on higher education, the Union Budget 2009-10 has proposed to allocate over Rs.21 billion for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs).

The government today announced increasing people's holding in public sector undertakings through the disinvestment programme, but said it would retain at least 51 per cent equity in these enterprises and would keep the banks and insurance companies under its control.

The government has reduced basic customs duty on influenza vaccine and nine other specified life-saving drugs used for treating breast cancer, hepatitis-B, rheumatic arthritis.

The government on Monday raised the Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) to 15 per cent even as it abolished the Fringe Benefit Tax.

The government said it will soon introduce a Bill to enact a Food Security law that will provide 25 kg of rice and/or wheat at Rs 3 to each family below the poverty line.

The government announced loans at a subsidised interest rate of six per cent for farmers who pay their dues in time.

The main aim of the Budget is to minimise the impact of global recession, says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The BJP has dubbed the General Budget as timid, tepid and unimpressive.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented the Union Budget 2009 in Parliament on Monday. Here are some of the highlights of the Budget.

Just 140 days back, I had the privilege to present the Interim Budget for 2009-10. It is a rare honour that I have been called upon to present the regular budget after the new government assumed office.

Continuing its thrust on higher education, the Union Budget 2009-10 has proposed to allocate over Rs.21 billion for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs).

The government today announced increasing people's holding in public sector undertakings through the disinvestment programme, but said it would retain at least 51 per cent equity in these enterprises and would keep the banks and insurance companies under its control.

The government has reduced basic customs duty on influenza vaccine and nine other specified life-saving drugs used for treating breast cancer, hepatitis-B, rheumatic arthritis.

The government on Monday raised the Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) to 15 per cent even as it abolished the Fringe Benefit Tax.

The government said it will soon introduce a Bill to enact a Food Security law that will provide 25 kg of rice and/or wheat at Rs 3 to each family below the poverty line.

The government announced loans at a subsidised interest rate of six per cent for farmers who pay their dues in time.

The main aim of the Budget is to minimise the impact of global recession, says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The BJP has dubbed the General Budget as timid, tepid and unimpressive.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented the Union Budget 2009 in Parliament on Monday. Here are some of the highlights of the Budget.