Budget 2013 Live: Chidambaram says no review of Income Tax slabs for this year
Budget 2013: P. Chidambaram began presenting one of the most highly anticipated Indian budgets of recent years on Thursday, as the government looks to rein in a bloated fiscal deficit and restore confidence in Asia's third-largest economy.
The 2013/14 budget caps an intensive seven-month campaign by the energetic Chidambaram, who was appointed last August, to turn around India's fortunes after years of policy drift and global economic turmoil
* No review of Income tax slabs for this year, propose tax credit of Rs 2000 for incomes up to Rs 5 Lakh.
* P. Chidambaram says India is facing many challenges, tags China as the biggest competitor
* Govt to set up India's first women's bank as a public sector bank by October, says FM
* Average economic growth rate in 11th Plan period is 8 per cent, highest ever in any Plan period
* Excise duty on SUVs to be increased to 30 per cent from 27 per cent, SUVs registered as taxis exempted.
* Job of FM is to find the resources to fund the efforts to bring minorities, the poor and others left behind in the race to make India to wealthier and a more equitable country.
* Current year's economic growth rate will be below India's potential growth rate of 8 per cent: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.
* DIPP and Japan's JICA preparing plan for Chennai- Bengaluru Industrial corridor.
* Two new major ports to be set up in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, says FM.
* Oil and gas exploration policy will be reviewed
