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Budget

3 imported cancer drugs made duty free, but cold shoulder to health sector overall in budget

Trastuzumab deruxtecan, osimertinib & durvalumab to become more affordable for cancer patients. But no new initiatives or push to ongoing projects in the healthcare sector in the budget.

In Budget 2024-25, focus on development of cities as ‘growth hubs’, land reforms in urban areas

Urban development among nine priority areas in this year’s budget. Since 2014, Centre has been implementing land reforms in rural areas. Now, it aims to do so in urban areas.

Defence budget raised by Rs 500 crore from interim, Rs 1.05 lakh crore reserved for Indian firms

In terms of pure numbers, the total defence budget for 2024-25 stands at Rs 6,21,940 crore as against Rs 6.23 lakh crore in the revised estimates for the last fiscal. 

Aid to Maldives sees cuts, assistance to Sri Lanka increases in Budget 2024-25

Full budget sees sizeable increase in development aid to Sri Lanka, while assistance to Maldives sees drastic cuts from both 2023-24 revised estimates and 2024-25 interim budget.

Budget 2024: Gold, silver, phone chargers to get cheaper. Cost of fertilisers, PVC flex boards to rise

Twenty-five critical minerals essential for sectors like nuclear energy, renewable energy, space, defence etc exempt from customs duties. Angel tax abolished, in boost for startups.

Relief for salaried class under new tax regime; 50% hike in standard deduction in Budget 2024

The standard deduction for salaried employees is proposed to be increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 annually.

Shares slide as government hikes trading-related taxes in Budget 2024

Govt raised tax rate for equity investments held for less than one year to 20% from 15% and for shares held for more than 12 months to 12.5% from 10% in the budget.

Budget 2024: Fiscal deficit target lowered to 4.9% of GDP, markets decline

The target signals the government's intention to remain fiscally prudent despite expectations it may ramp up spending on welfare programs following a weaker than anticipated election victory for Modi.

Budget 2024: Govt to provide Rs 11.11 lakh cr towards capex in boost for infra

Sitharaman also said the government would facilitate investment-grade energy audit of micro and small industries in 60 clusters.

Modi government says focus on employment & middle class in first post-poll budget

The government will allocate 2 trillion rupees ($24 billion) for job creation over the next five years, Nirmala Sitharaman said.

On Camera

Can Syria’s tiny Druze minority survive West Asia’s new storms? There’s little hope

Indians see West Asia as one uninterrupted wash of Islam, but the reality is more complex. For the Druze, support from Israel—where they are a recognised minority—is now critical.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

Not just AK-203, India & Russia to jointly manufacture AK-19 and PPK-20 for domestic use and export 

India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.

Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India’s learning Trumplomacy the hard way

Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.