The former finance minister said that the income tax relief is only for those that have moved to the new regime and data about how many taxpayers switched to it is not available.
Highways sector also saw jump in allocation. Fifty airports, heliports, water aerodromes & advance landing grounds to be revived to improve regional air connectivity.
To aid 'green growth' agenda, Sitharaman announced measures like support for scrapping & replacing old vehicles, battery storage systems & compressed biogas plants.
Capital budget increased to Rs 1.62 lakh crore from 1.52 lakh crore. Navy, Army see substantial increase but allocation for procuring aircraft, aero engines goes down.
In her 1 hour 26 minute-long speech, finance minister mentioned 'infrastructure' about 26 times and both 'digital' & 'green' 21 times. The word 'amrit' appeared 12 times.
Allocation to external affairs ministry for development assistance to foreign countries & projects fell 13% to estimated Rs 5,848.58 crore from Rs 6,750 crore in FY23.
Education Ministry has been allocated Rs 1,12,899.47 cr — up by 8% from last yr — and FM has announced launch of PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 to skill lakhs of youth within next 3 yrs.
In her budget speech, Sitharaman said her govt was committed to bringing down fiscal deficit to 4.5% by 2025-26 and pegged economic growth at 7% in the current fiscal.
The overall allocation to the sector increased from last year’s Rs 1.4 lakh crore. Slew of initiatives like addition of new lines, doubling rail lines announced.
The Prime Minister said that the Union Budget gives priority to the deprived and will fulfill the dreams of the aspirational society, the farmers, and the middle class.
Years are quietly being stripped off my lifespan, and somehow that doesn’t ruin my day. But getting scolded for one careless word in an email? That can send me spiralling.
ThePrint had previously reported that India & Russia are talking about 5 more regiments of the S-400, but no contracts are to be signed during the Russian president's visit.
The India-South Africa series-defining fact is the catastrophic decline of Indian red ball cricket where a visiting team can mock us with the 'grovel' word.
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