Union Budget 2017: Here are the highlights so far

Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Union Budg2017, his fourth annual budget, today. The highlights of Budget 2017 are :


Monetary policy to be expansionary in major economies

More steps will be taken to benefit farmers and the weaker sections; budget being presented during weak global economy

Pace of remonetisation has picked up; demonetisation effects will not spill over to next year

Functional autonomy of the railways to be maintained

Demonetisation will help in transfer of resources from tax evaders to government:

Merger of Railways Budget with General Budget brings focus on a multi-modal approach for development of railways, highways and inland water transport

Only transient impact on economy due to demonetisation; long term benefit include higher GDP growth and tax revenue

GDP will be bigger, cleaner after demonetisation

Effects of demonetisation not expected to spill over to the next year, says Finance Minister


Effects of demonetisation not expected to spill over to the next year, says Finance Minister


Govt took two tectonic policy initiatives - passage of GST Bill and demonetisation

Demonetisation was a continuation of series of measures taken by govt in 2 yrs; it is bold and decisive measure

We are seen as engine of global growth; IMF sees India to grow fastest in major economies

36 pc increase in FDI flow; forex reserves at USD 361 billion in January enough to cover 12 months needs

CAD declined from 1 pc last year to 0.3 pc in first half of current fiscal: FM


India has emerged as bright spot in the world: FM


Uncertainty around commodity prices especially oil to have impact on emerging economies: FM

Double digit inflation has been controlled; sluggish growth replaced by high growth; war on blackmoney launched: FM

We have moved from discretionary based administration to policy based administration: FM Jaitley

Agricultural sector is expected to grow at 4.1 per cent this fiscal, says Jaitley

Demonetisation was a bold and decisive strike in a series of measures to arrive at a new norm of bigger, cleaner and real GDP

Committed to double farm income in 5 yrs

Plan, non-plan classification of expenditure done away with in the Budget for 2017-18 to give a holistic picture

Mini labs by qualified local entrepreneurs to be set up for soil testing in all 648 krishi vigyan kendras in the country

Budget presentation advanced to help begin implementation of schemes before onset of monsoon

We will continue the process of economic reform for the benfit of poor

Spend more in rural areas, infra, poverty alleviation, while maintaining fiscal prudence as guiding principle of Budget

Our agenda for next year is to transform, energise and clean India

World Bank expects GDP growth rate at 7.6 pc in FY18 and 7.8 pc in FY19

Allocation under MNREGA increased to 48,000 crore from Rs 38,500 crore. This is highest ever allocation

Rs 9,000 cr higher allocation for payment of sugarcane arrears

Target of agriculture credit fixed at Rs 10 lakh cr in 2017-18

Tax administration honouring the honest is one of the 10 pillars of Budget 2017-18

National Testing agency to conduct all examinations in higher education, freeing CBSE and other agencies

133-km road per day constructred under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana as against 73-km in 2011-14

Govt to set up dairy processing fund of Rs 8,000 crore over three years with initial corpus of Rs 2,000 crore

1 cr households to be brought out of poverty under Antodya Scheme

Participation of women in MNREGA increased to 55 pc from 45 pc in past

Modern law on contract farming will be drafted and circulated to states

Dedicated micro-irrigation fund to be created with a corpus of Rs 5000 crore

Market reforms will be undertaken, states will be asked to denotify perishables from Essential Commodities Act

Space technology to be used for monitoring MNREGA implementation
Sanitation coverage in villages has increased from 42 pc in Oct 2016 to 60 pc, a rise of 18 pc, says FM

We propose to provide safe drinking water to 28,000 arsenic and fluoride affected habitations

To construct one crore houses by 2019 for homeless. PM Awas Yojana allocation raised from Rs 15,000 cr to Rs 23,000 cr

100 pc electrification of villages to be completed by May 2018

27,000 cr on to be spend on PMGSY; 1 cr houses to be completed by 2017-18 for houseless

PM Kaushal Kendras will be extended to 600 districts; 100 international skill centres to be opened to help people get jobs abroad

The allocation for rural agri and allied sector in 2017-18 is record Rs 1,81,223 crore

In higher education, we will undertake reforms in UGC, give autonomy to colleges and institutions

A system of annual learning outcome in schools to be introduced; innovation fund for secondary education to be set up

Two new AIIMS to be set up Jharkhand and Gujarat

New rules regarding medical devices will be devised to reduce their cost

1.5 lakh health sub centres to be converted to Health Wellness Centres

National Housing Bank will refinance indiviual loans worth Rs 20,000 crore in 2017-18

Rs 500 cr allocated to set up Mahila Shakti Kendras; Allocation raised from Rs 1.56 lakh cr to Rs 1.84 lakh cr for women & child welfare.

Capital and development expenditure pegged at Rs 1.31 lakh cr for railways in 2017-18 from Budget

Allocation for SCs increased from Rs 38,833 cr to Rs 52,393 cr, a rise of 35 per cent

35 pc increase in allocation for SC to Rs 52,393 cr

For senior citizens, Aadhaar based health cards will be issued

Model Shops and Establishment Bill to open up additional opportunities for employment of women

Select airports in tier-II cities to be taken up for operations, development on PPP mode

New metro rail policy to be unveiled

Railway tariffs to be fixed on the basis of cost, social obligation and competition

Service charge on e-tickets booked through IRCTC will be withdrawn

Delhi and Jaipur to have solid waste management plants and five more to be set up later

Government proposes Coach Mitra facility to redress grievances related to rail coaches

500 stations will be differently abled by providing lifts and escalators

Unmanned railway level crossings to be eliminated by 2020

Railway line of 3,500 km will be commissioned in 2017-18 as against 2,800 km in 2016-17

Total allocation for rural, agri and allied sectors for 2017-18 is a record Rs 1,87,223 cr, up 24 per cent from last year

Rs 1 lakh cr corpus for railway safety fund over five years

A scheme for senior citizens to ensure 8 per cent guaranteed returns

Dedicated micro-irrigation fund to be set up by NABARD to achieve mission of Per Drop, More Crop

Digi Gaon will be launched to promote tele-medicine and education

Crude oil strategic reserves to be set up in Odisha and Rajasthan apart from 3 already constructed

Coverage of Fasal Bima Yojana to go up from 30 pc of cropped area to 40 pc in 2017-18 and 50 per cent next year

For transport sector, including railways, road and shipping, government provides Rs 2.41 lakh crore

Allocation of Rs 10,000 cr for Bharat Net project for providing high-speed broadband in FY18

Allocation for national highways stepped up to Rs 64,000 cr from Rs 57,676 cr

Budget allocation for highways stepped up to Rs 64,000 crore in FY18 from Rs 57,676 crore

Dispute resolution in infrastructure projects in PPP mode will be institutionalised

Rs 2,74,114 crore allocated for defence expenditure, excluding pension; This includes Rs 86,000 crore for defence capital

Govt to further liberalise FDI policy

Over 90 per cent of FDI proposls are now processed through automatic route

FIPB will be abolished

Trade Infrastructure Export Scheme to be launched in 2017-18; total allocation for infra at record Rs 3.96 lakh cr

Second phase of solar power development to be taken up with an aim of generating 20,000 MW

After demonetisation on Nov 8 last year, deposit of between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 80 lakh made in 1.09 cr bank accounts at an average of Rs 5.03 lakh till Dec 30

More funds beyond Rs 10,000 cr for recapitalisation of banks will be provided if needed

The shares of railway CPSCs like IRCTC and IRFC to be listed on various stock exchanges

We are largely a tax non-compliant society

New ETF with diverse stocks will be launched in 2017-18

Of 76 lakh individuals who reported income of over Rs 5 lakh, 56 lakh are salaried

Integrated public sector oil major to be created to match global giants

Govt will amend the Multi-state Cooperative Act to protect the poor and gullible investors

Urgent need to protect poor from chit fund schemes, draft bill placed in public domain

Computer emergency response team to be set for cyber security of financial sector