Union Budget 2017-2018

Union Budget 2017-2018 Live Updates

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is presenting the Union budget 2017-2018 in Lok Sabha.

Some of the Highlights are:

1. IMF estimates world GDP to grow at 3.1% in 2016 and 3.4% in 2017: FM
2. EY India Insta-Analysis on Budget 2017: India becomes 6th largest manufacturer in the world.
3. The advanced economies are expected to increase their growth from 1.6%-1.9% and emerging economies from 4.1%-4.5%, 
4. Approach in preparing the Budget 2017 is to spend more on rural areas, infrastructure & poverty alleviation with fiscal prudence, 
5. Welcome plan to increase crop insurance to 40% of all cropped area
6. Agriculture sector is expected to grow at 4.6%, agriculture expenditure targeted at Rs 10 lakh crore.36% increase in FDI flow; 
7. forex reserves at $361 billion in January, which is enough to cover 12 months needs.
8. Allocation for MGNREGA at Rs 48,000 crore, highest ever.
9. Total allocation for rural, agricultural and allied sectors for 2017-18 is Rs 187223 crore, which is 24% higher than last year.
10. One crore houses for poor by 2019.
11. Safe drinking water to cover 28,000 arsenic and Fluoride-affected habitations in the next four years.
12. 133-km road per day constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana as against 73-km in 2011-14.
13. For senior citizens, Aadhar cards giving their health condition will be introduced.
14. Two new All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) to be set up in Jharkhand and Gujarat.
15. 3500 km railway lines to be put up.
16. Service charge on rail tickets booked through IRCTC to be withdrawn.
17. Rail safety fund with corpus of Rs 100,000 crore will be created over a period of five years.
18. 500 rail stations to be made differently-abled friendly by providing lifts and escalators.
19. A new metro rail policy will be announced, this will open up new jobs for our youth.
20.  Foreign investment promotion board (FIPB) to be abolished.
21. Allocation for infrastructure stands at a record Rs 3,96,135 crore.
22. Government to set up strategic crude oil reserves in Odisha and Rajasthan.
23. 1.25 crore people have already adopted Bhim App for digital payments.
24. Aadhaar Pay- an app for merchants- to be launched' 20 lakh aadhaar-based POS by September 2017.
25. Government is considering introduction of new law to confiscate assets of offenders who escape the country.
26. Defence expenditure excluding pension at Rs 2.74 lakh crore.
27. Fiscal deficit for 2017-18 pegged at 3.2 percent of GDP.
28. Fiscal deficit target for next three years pegged at 3 percent.
29. India's tax-to GDP ratio is very low. 
30. We are largely a tax non compliance society, when too many people evade taxes burden falls on those who are honest.
31. Out of 3.7 crore who filed tax returns in 2015-16, only 24 lakh persons showed income above Rs 10 lakh.
32. Of 76 lakh individuals who reported income of over Rs 5 lakh, 56 lakh are salaried.
33. Small firms with turnover up to Rs 50 crore to pay 25% tax now, instead of 30%.
34. Black money SIT has suggested no cash transaction above Rs 3 lakh. 
35. The government has accepted this recommendation.
36. Maximum cash donation any party can receive will be Rs 2000 from one source.
37. Political parties will be entitled to receive donations by cheques or digital modes.
38. An amendment being proposed to RBI Act to enable the issuance of electoral bonds for political funding.
39. Jaitley reduces income tax rate from 10% to 5% for tax slab of Rs 250,000 to Rs 500,000.
40. Surcharge of 10% for those whose annual income is Rs 50 lakh to 1 crore.
41. 15% surcharge on incomes above Rs 1 crore to continue.