Budget 2013-14: Highlights

PTIUnion Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presents Budget 2013-14 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Tax credit of Rs. 2,000 for income upto Rs. 5 lakh; Surcharge of 10 per cent for taxable
incomes above Rs. 1 crore, No review of tax slabs; Commodity transaction tax for non-agri
commodity trading; Tax Deducted at Source to be fixed at 1% on land deals over Rs 50 lakh;
30% excise duty hike on SUVs; 6% excise duty hike on mobiles above Rs. 2,000
Tax credit of Rs. 2,000 for income upto Rs. 5 lakh

Surcharge of 10 per cent for taxable incomes above Rs. 1 crore, No review of tax slabs

Excise duty on SUVs to be increased to 30 per cent from 27 per cent, SUVs registered as taxis exempted

Commodities transaction tax levied on non—agriculture commodities futures contracts at 0.01 per cent

Rs 532 crore to make post offices part of core banking

Direct Taxes Code (DTC) bill to be introduced in current Parliament session

Duty-free limits raised to Rs 50000 for men and Rs 1 lakh for women

18% rise in excise duty on Cigarattes, cigars and cheerots

Service tax on all A/C restaurants

Royalty tax hiked from 10% to 25%

Tax Deducted at Source to be fixed at 1% on land deals over Rs 50 lakh

No change in peak custom, excise rates.

5 to 10 per cent surcharge on domestic companies whose taxable income exceeds Rs 10 crore

11 lakh beneficiaries have received benefit under Direct Benefit Transfer scheme. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Scheme to be rolled out throughout the country during the term of UPA Government.

Modified GAAR norms to be introduced from April 1, 2016.

Administration reform commission proposed

Rs 5,87,082 crore to be transferred to states under share of taxes and non plan grants in 2013—14

"To the women of India - we have a collective responsibility to ensure the dignity and safety of women. Recent
incidents have cast a long dark shadow on our credentials. As more women enter public spaces...there are more
reports of violence against them. We stand in solidarity with our girl children. We pledge to everything possible
to keep them swcure. A number of measures are in the works and they will be taken up Government and Non-
government sources…I will set up a fund of Rs 1000 crore to achieve this end. Minstry of Women will come up
with a plan on how to use these funds."

Rs. 1,000 crore each for women, youth funds

Rs. 1,000 crore for Nirbhaya fund

Promise to women, youth and senior citizens

289 more cities to get private radio FM stations

Grant of Rs 100 crore each to AMU (Aligarh), BHU (Varanasi) and TISS (Guwahati) and INTACH

"Rs 6275 crore to Ministry of Technology, Rs 5216 crore to Department of Space, Rs 5280 crore to Department
of Energy. These amounts are substantial increases."

Rs. 2 trillion for defence sector

First home loan from a bank or housing finance corporation upto Rs. 25 lakh entitled to additional deduction of
interest upto Rs. 1 lakh.

Proposal to launch Inflation Indexed Bonds or Inflation Indexed National Security Certificates to protect
savings from inflation.

On oil and gas exploration policy, the Budget proposes to move from the present profit sharing mechanism to
revenue sharing. Natural gas pricing policy will be reviewed.

Insurance companies can now open branches in Tier 2 cities and below without prior approval. All towns of
India with a population of 10000 or more will have an LIC branch and one other public sector insurance
company.

Income limit for the tax-saving Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme is raised to Rs. 12 lakh from Rs. 10 lakh
All public-sector banks have assured the Finance Minister that they will all have ATMs in their branch areas by
2014

India's first women's bank as a PSU proposed, Rs. 1,000 crore working capital announced

India Infrastructure Finance Corporation (IIFC), in partnership with ADB will help infrastructure companies to
access bond market to tap long term funds.

Regulatory authority to be set up for road sector

Four Infrastructure debt funds have been registered

Rs 7 lakh crore target fixed for agri credit for 2013—14 compared to Rs 5.75 lakh crore in the current year.

Eastern Indian states to get Rs 1,000 crore allocation for improving agricultural production.

Green revolution in east India significant. Rice output increased in Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand and West
Bengal;

Rs 500 crore allocated for programme on crop diversification

ICDS gets Rs. 17,700 crore.

Average annual growth rate of agriculture and allied services estimated at 3.6 per cent in 2012—13 when 250
MT foodgrains was produced

Rs 27,049 crore allocation to the Agriculture Ministry in 2013—14

The target for farm credit for 2013-14 has been set at Rs. 7,00,000 crore against Rs. 5,75,000 crore during the
current year.

Rs 14,873 crore for JNNURM for urban transportation in 2013—14 against Rs 7,880 crore in the current fiscal

Foodgrain production in 2012—13 will be over 250 million tons

Rs 15,260 crore to be allocated to Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Rs 80,194 crore allocation for Ministry of Rural Development in 2013—14. About Rs 33,000 crore for
MGNREGA

Rs. 5,000 crore for NABARD for agri storage facilities

Godowns to be constructed with help of panchayats. Food grain productions have been raised drastically and
only increase with each year.

Rs 17,700 crore to be allocated for Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS): FM.

“National Food security bill is a promise of the UPA government. I hope the bill be passed as soon as possible. I
have set apart Rs 10,000 crore to the expected cost of the act.”
An Institute for agricultural biotechnology will be set up in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Rs 1069 crore allocated to Department of Aryush: FM

Rs 4,727 crore to be allocated for medical education and research. Rs 1,069 crore to be given to Department of
Ayush.

Medical colleges in six more AIIMS—like institutions to start functioning this year; Rs 1650 crore allocated for
the purpose.

Rs 37,330 crore allocated for Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Rs 110 crore to be allocated to the department of disability affairs, says FM.

Additional sum of Rs 200 crore to Women and Child Welfare Ministry to address issues of vulnerable women.

Rs 3511 crore allocated to Minority Affairs Ministry which is 60 per cent of the revised estimates.

Rs 13215 crore for mid-day meal programme: Chidambaram

The idea of setting up a PNGSY-2 causes uproar in the Parliament. The minister is interrupted the round of
shouting, who clarifies that states that have completed PNGSY -1 will get the second version, the rest will
continue under the first version

The Right to Education Act is firmly in place, says Chidambaram, while announcing Rs. 27,250 crore to Sarva
Shikhsa Abhiyaan in FY14.

The Human Resources Development ministry meanwhile gets Rs. 65,867 crore, a rise of 17% from revised
estimates.

"Government committed to reconstruction of Nalanda University" - But no specific funds for the project was
announced.

Chidambaram announces additional fund allocation of Rs 200 crore to the Women and Child Development
Ministry. He says women 'belonging to the most vulnerable groups must be able to live with self-esteem and
dignity'.

169 crore given for development of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani (Natural medicine) and homeopathy

Rs 41,561 crore for SC plan and Rs 24,598 crore for tribal plan. The move comes with a strong statement

Plan Expenditure placed at Rs. 5,55,322 crore. It is 33.3 percent of the total expenditure while Non Plan
Expenditure is estimated at Rs. 11,09,975 crore. The plan expenditure in 2013-14 will be 29.4 percent more
than the RE of the year 2012-13.

Fiscal Deficit for 2013-14 is pegged at 4.8 percent of GDP. The Revenue Deficit will be 3.3 percent for the same
period.

On oil and gas exploration policy, the Budget proposes to move from the present profit sharing mechanism to
revenue sharing. Natural gas pricing policy will be reviewed.
On coal, the Budget proposes adoption of a policy of pooled pricing.

Benefits or preferences enjoyed by MSME to continue upto three years after they grow out of this category.

Refinancing capacity of SIDBI raised to Rs. 10,000 crore.

Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) for textile to continue in 12th Plan with an investment target of
Rs. 1,51,000 crore.

Rs. 14,000 crore will be provided to public sector banks for capital infusion in 2013-14.

A grant of Rs. 100 crore each has been made to 4 institutions of excellence including Aligarh Muslim
University, Banaras Hindu University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati and Indian National Trust for
Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

A surcharge of 10 pe rcent on persons (other than companies) whose taxable income exceeds Rs.1 crore have
been levied.

Generation based incentives to wind energy projects reintroduced, Rs 800 crore provided for the purpose to
Ministry of New & Renewable Energy

Rs 14,000 crore capital infusion into public sector banks in 2013—14

Standing Council of Experts in Ministry of Finance to examine transaction cost of doing business in India

Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) to submit its report next month

Incubators set up by companies in academic institutions will qualify for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
activities

Rs 500 crore would be allocated for addressing environmental issues faced by textile industry

Concessional six per cent interest on loans to weavers.

SEBI will simplify procedures for entry of foreign portfolio investors

SIDBI’s re—financing facility to MSMEs to be doubled to Rs 10,000 crore

5 million tons Dabhol LNG import terminal to be operated at full capacity in 2013—14

Coal imports during Apr—Dec 2012 crossed 100 million tonnes and expected to go up to 185 million tonnes in
2016—17,

Government will provide Rs 14000-crore capital infusion in state-run (public-sector) banks in 2013/14

Oil and gas exploration policy will be reviewed and moved from profit sharing to revenue sharing

Policy on exploration of shale gas on the anvil; natural gas pricing policy will be reviewed and uncertainty
removed
Rs. 9,000 crore earmarked as the first installment of balance of CST compensations to different States/UTs.

Govt to construct power transmission system from Srinagar to Leh at the cost of Rs 1,840 crore, Rs 226 crore
provided

Rs 2400 crore for textile technology upgradation

Two new ports in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh

Many manufacturing projects stalled due to regulatory process

A company investing Rs 100 crore or more in plant and machinery in April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2015 will be
allowed 15 per cent investment deduction allowance apart from depreciation

To provide appropriate incentives for semiconductors industry including zero customs duty on plants and
machineries.

Fresh push for Bangalore-Chennai industrial corridor. Minister says the corridor to be developed in co-
operation with the Japanese.

DIPP and Japan’s JICA preparing plan for Chennai— Bengaluru Industrial corridor

Power sector gets a nod - States encouraged to restructure financial systems to improve sector as a whole and
sign MoUs for the same effect.

Rs 25,000 cr to be raised through tax free bonds: Chidambaram

"Doing business in India must be seen as easy, friendly and mutually beneficial" - Second reference to
increasing FDI in India. Government seems to betting heavily on a large FDI influx to help with the deficient

"We will use innovative and new financial methods to increase investment in infrastructure," says the Minister.

New steps have been announced to increase availability and amount of debts available for infrastructure
projects.

The revised expenditure target is Rs 14,30,825 crore or 96 per cent of Budget estimate for this fiscal. In 2013—
14, the budget estimate is Rs 16,65,297 crore.

Budget expenditure is Rs 16,65,297 crore and Plan expenditure Rs 5,55, 322 crore: FM.

Plan expenditure in 12th Five Year Plan revised to Rs 14,30,825 crore or 96 per cent of budgeted expenditure

We have brought down headline WPI inflation to 7 per cent and core inflation to 4.2 per cent. Food inflation is
worrying: FM.

24.3 % hike in expenditure for health care both rural and urban health mission.

12.5 % hike in Scheduled caste and Scheduled tribe sub-plans

 Overarching goal to create opportunities for youth to acquire skills for self-employment

All flagship programmes adequately funded. Ministries must take it forward.

Average economic growth rate in 11th Plan period is 8 per cent, highest ever in any Plan period.

Battle against inflation must be fought on all counts.

Foreign investment is imperative

Current account definict high due to dependence on oil , high gold imports

Need $75billion to bridge CAD

Present economic space is constrained by economic climate and tight monetary policy.

Railway budget 2013-14: Highlights

 Union Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal presenting the Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The HinduRailway
Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal flanked by his Ministers of State arrives at Parliament House to present the
Railway Budget on Tuesday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy


PTIRailway Minister Pawan Bansal poses with a copy of the rail budget speech on the eve of its presentation.
Railway Minister concludes his budget speech

67 new express trains to be introduced; 27 passenger trains, 8 DEMUs

Opposition disrupts Rail Budget speech over new train announcements

Operating ratio of 88.8 percent achieved

Dividend reduced from 5 to 4 percent

Electrification of 1,200 km to be completed this year

72 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata

An independent Rail Tariff Authority has been formalised

Dynamic fuel adjustment component to be introduced on freight rates from April one, that will result in less
than five per cent increase in rates

Diesel price hike added Rs 3,300 crore to fuel bill of Railways

Railway revenues to show a balance of Rs 12,506 crore in 2013-14

Planned investment of Rs 63,363 crore for 2013-14, including Rs 600 crore from PPP route

Operating ratio expected to improve to 87.8 per cent in 2013-14 from 88.8 per cent in the current fiscal

5.2 per cent growth in passenger traffic expected in 2013-14

Railway hopes to end 2013-14 with a balance of Rs 12,506 crore

Rs.100 crore for improving stations in New Delhi

Railways to set up a Debt Service Fund

Freight earning to grow by 9 per cent to Rs 93,554 crore.

Freight target fixed at 1,047 MT for 2013-14, 40 MT over the current year

Marginal increase in cancellation, reservation charges

No fresh hike in passenger fares

Modest 5-6% hike in passenger fares will add to corpus, and translate into better amenities

Rs 3,000 crore loan from Finance Ministry re-paid with interest by Railways this financial year.
Indian Railway Institute for Financial Management to be set up at Secunderabad to train rail officers on a
regular basis

Railway Energy Management Company to be set up to harness solar and wind energy

47,000 vacancies for weaker sections and physically challenged to be filled up soon

New coach manufacturing and maintenance facilities to be set up in various places including Rae Bareli,
Bhilwara, Sonepat, Kalahandi, Kolar, Palakkad and Pratapgarh

Rs 9000 crore investments expected including Rs 3,800 crore in port connectivity and Rs 800 crore in iron ore
mines connectivity

Allocation of Rs 1,000 crore each made for railway land development authority and railway station
development authority.

Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US

Common rail-bus ticket to be introduced for Katra-Vaishnodevi pilgrims

New train Azadi Express to places linked with the freedom struggle to be introduced, fares to be concessional

Internet booking to be provided from 0030 hours to 2330 hours

Internet booking to be strengthened with next-generation e-ticketing system to eliminate delays

Special A/C coaches ‘Anubhuti’, to be introduced in select Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give
excellent ambience with commensurate fare

Railways will use Aadhar data base for bookings and validation of passengers

SMS alert service being rolled out shortly to intimate passengers about reservation status

Free wi-fi facility to be provided in select trains

Plan to allow e-ticketing via mobile phones

Railway committed to bring marked change in passenger amenities

Seventeen bridges identified for repair

Smoke and fire detection system envisaged

Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans

Aim to eliminate 31,846 level crossings

Identification of 104 stations for upgradation in places with more than one million population and of religious
significance
Railways to set up six more Rail Neer bottling plants

10% reservation for women in RPF

Presence of women in RPF to go up

Plan for elephant corridor safety

Corporate safety plan proposed

Railway safety fund inadequate

Fall in accidents — per million accidents down from .41 to .13

There has been significant drop in train accidents

Rs. 95,000 crore shortfall, meeting this shortfall will mean a paradigm shift

Rs 1 lakh crore to be raised from public-private partnership, Rs 1.05 lakh crore through internal resources in
the 12th Plan

12th Plan railway size to be Rs 5.19 lakh crore, with gross budgetary support of Rs 1.94 lakh crore

Steep increase in input costs have been met with hike in Freight rates: Bansal

Railways powerful vehicle driving the growth of the country: Bansal

Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal presents his maiden budget in Parliament

Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal arrives in Parliament to present his maiden budget.

A day before presenting the budget, Mr. Bansal said that there was a demand for more trains. But he did not
disclose whether he would concede it, as his predecessors did.

"The government is for the people. You will have to see the budget from that point of view...," he said at an
informal chat with reporters, when asked whether the budget would be people-friendly.

Highlights: Economic Survey 2012-13

New Delhi, February 27, 2013

The finance ministry delivered a report on the state of the economy on Wednesday, a day before finance
minister P Chidambaram unveils what is expected to be the most austere budget in years. The annual report
was prepared by Raghuram Rajan, the former chief economist to the International

Monetary Fund (IMF) who became the top adviser in the finance ministry last year.
Following are highlights of the report:

GROWTH

* GDP growth seen at 6.1-6.7 pct in 2013/14

FISCAL DEFICIT

* India likely to meet fiscal deficit target of 5.3 pct of GDP in 2012/13, despite "significant" shortfall in revenues

* Government target for fiscal deficit is 4.8 pct of GDP in 2013/14

* Government target for fiscal deficit is 3 pct of GDP in 2016/17

* Prioritisation of expenditure seen as key ingredient of credible medium-term fiscal consolidation plan

* Raising tax to GDP ratio to more than 11 pct seen as critical for sustaining fiscal consolidation

* Room for accommodative monetary policy with expected fiscal consolidation

INFLATION

* Headline inflation may decline to 6.2-6.6 pct by March

CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT

* Focus on curbing imports, making oil prices more market determined to reign in current account deficit

* Recommends curbing gold imports to reign in current account deficit

* Room to increase exports in the short run limited

FOREIGN INFLOWS

* Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) flows need to be targeted towards long-term rupee instruments

SECTOR GROWTH

* Industrial output seen growing around 3 pct in 2012/13