The Railway Budget was passed by the Lok Sabha with Minister Mamata Banerjee announcing a slew of measures to tone up the functioning of the Railways.
The 2009 budget was pro-growth and addressed stimulus needs of economy, Ahluwalia said.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee indicated bold tax reforms and as a first step has done away with Fringe Benefit Tax, Commodities Transaction Tax and the 10 per cent surcharge on Personal Income Tax.
Meeting a long-pending demand of over a crore defence veterans and 12 lakh serving jawans, the government substantially increased the pension of ex-servicemen.
Countrymen will start getting the sophisticated unique identity cards from within the next 18 months with the Govt allocating Rs 120 crore for the project.
India Inc welcomed focus on reviving growth but expressed regret that MAT was raised.
The government raised the income tax exemption limit by Rs 10,000 for general taxpayers, and by Rs 15,000 for senior citizens.
The Government on Monday outlined measures to speed infrastructure development.
Pranab Mukherjee’s bold gamble of letting fiscal deficit slip out of his hands may still have paid off had he articulated a vision for economic reforms in the debut Budget of UPA II Govt.
The run-up to the budget, always a spectacle of expectation, is especially fevered this year.
In its first Budget after returning to power at the Centre, the UPA Govt will root for higher growth rate by taking fiscal measures that will boost consumer spending.
The Indian economy’s fate will be sealed by the Budget, if you go by media reports. If that was truly the case, the media would be justified in turning Budget day into a big spectacle, an Olympics of political economy if you will.
Minorities, women and economically backward class can now look forward to 'better representation' in railway jobs.
The 2009/10 railways budget is a 'competent' job, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.
In a thanks-giving budget, Mamata proposed no increase in passenger fares or freight tariff.
Improving passenger amenities is a priority area for the Indian railways and it will set up a panel to look at innovative financing for unviable projects.
The flamboyance of former railway minister Lalu Prasad gave way to a rather...
