Page 2 - Budget

Parliamentary panel raises concerns over budget cuts for MGNREGA scheme

Even as a parliamentary standing committee raised concerns over the reduced fund allocation for the MGNREGA scheme, the government said there is "no dearth of money" if the demand arises for wage employment. The Standing Committee on Rural Development, which submitted its report in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, said the budget estimates for MGNREGS have been reduced by Rs 29,400 crore for 2023-24 when compared to the revised estimates of 2022-23. "The Act governing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme provides Right to Work' to such deprived sections of the rural populace who are willing to work. It is a last resort of succour for the jobless section who don't have any other means to feed them and their family members," the report said. "The role and importance of MGNREGA were visible during the corona pandemic times when it acted as a ray of hope for the needy in times of distress," it said. The ministry, in its response, stated that the scheme is ...

Puducherry CM N Rangasamy announces monthly LPG subsidy of Rs 300

The Puducherry government on Monday announced a Rs 300 monthly LPG subsidy for the people of the union territory, earmarking Rs 126 crore for the scheme. Chief Minister N Rangasamy made the announcement in the UT budget presented for the year 2023-24. Rangasamy, who detailed the achievements of various departments said the government had earmarked Rs 126 crore for implementing the scheme to provide the subsidy of Rs 300 for all families for one cylinder a month. He presented a Rs 11,600 crore tax free budget. The LPG subsidy initiative would benefit all families possessing family ration cards. The CM said the government would also hold a "World Tamil Conference" here with the participation of Tamil scholars from various countries. A national conference would also be conducted as a highlight of celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo "to propagate his thoughts, philosophy, research on yoga and literature." Further, the government would deposit Rs 50,000 under

Sitharaman to present J-K budget in LS today as 2nd leg of session begins

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday will present the budget for 2023-24 for the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha

94% expenditure marked for road, bridge, infra projects in MMRDA budget

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's budget for fiscal 2023-24 was presented by Metropolitan Commissioner SVR Srinivas on Friday, with 94 per cent of expenditure earmarked for road and bridge projects, public transport and other infrastructure development works. As per an MMRDA release, the total estimated receipt is Rs.23,689.77 crores, including a loan from the Maharashtra government, while the total estimated expenditure is Rs. 28,704.98 crore, leaving a deficit of Rs 5,014.41 crore. It was presented in the MMRDA's 15th meeting in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis. Srinivas also presented a revised budget of MMRDA for 2022-23 with estimated total revenue of Rs.14,535.39 crore and total expenditure estimated at Rs.15,452.98 crores. Both the budgets were approved in the meeting, the release informed. "Out of total estimated expenditure for 2023-24, 94 per cent, or Rs.27,079.69 crore, will be spent on Road and Bridge ...

AAP govt presents its first complete Punjab Budget of Rs 1.96 trillion

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday presented the first complete state Budget of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government with an outlay of Rs 196,462 crore

Biden ultimate socialist president, a disaster for America: Nikki Haley

Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley Thursday slammed President Joe Biden for his annual budgetary proposals which she said was socialist in nature and a "disaster for America". "We should be moving people from welfare to work. But Joe Biden is calling for no-strings-attached welfare checks with no work requirements," Haley said after Biden unveiled his USD 6.9 trillion budget. In his annual budget, Biden has come out with a series of social welfare measures and raised taxes on the rich. "I think Biden is the ultimate socialist president. He loves to spend everybody else's money. His answer to everything is to increase taxes," Haley told Fox News in an interview. "We need to be realistic. We're USD 31 trillion in debt. We are borrowing money to make our interest payments. This is not sustainable. The problem is Washington DC has a spending problem, and we need to put them on our diet and put an end to it," she said in response to a question. "The first thi

Those giving assurances are traitors: Aaditya Thackeray on Maha budget

"How much can you trust upon them? Assurances were given by the previous government during 2014-2019. How many of them were fulfilled," said Aaditya Thackeray

We will fulfill needs of women and middle class in our first Budget: Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said the state Budget, which is to be presented on Thursday, will fulfil the needs and aspirations of women and the middle class across the state."I can tell you that we will look to fulfil the needs and aspirations of women & the middle class." Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said."Tomorrow (Thursday) is our first Budget. We'll be fulfilling our promises tomorrow. Everyone is anticipating what the Budget will hold for them," he added.On the Budget, which will be the first to be presented by the Shiv Sena-BJP government since the change of guard in the state last year, Shinde said the government will keep its promises to the people.Speaking at an event at Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India on Wednesday, the CM also extended best wishes to women on International Women's Day. He said, "Today, we honoured women who work for the country in the cities and villages. Today is a day for our women, sisters and mothers."Shinde said the ...

Private sector should increase investments, benefit from Budget: Modi

Trust and expectation have replaced doubt in discussions about Indian economy, he says

Gujarat Guv gives assent to stringent bill to tackle exam paper leaks

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has given his assent to a Bill brought by the state's BJP government in the ongoing Budget session to curb recruitment exam paper leaks which prescribes jail up to 10 years to those involved in such malpractices and may face fines of up to Rs 1 crore. The Gujarat Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2023 was unanimously passed in the House on February 24, and Governor Devvrat has given his assent, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said on Monday. As per provisions of the Bill, those involved in malpractices like exam paper leaks could be jailed for up to 10 years and may face fines of up to Rs 1 crore. The legislation is meant to punish those who either leak a question paper of a recruitment exam, procure a question paper in an unauthorised manner or solve such a paper illegally. The Bill says any candidate indulging in such activities will be punished with imprisonment up to three years, and shall also be liable for a fine

Delhi Assembly session from Mar 17, Gahlot to present budget on Mar 21

Delhi Assembly's budget session will be convened from March 17 and the budget will be presented on March 21, officials said on Sunday. This will be the first time since AAP came to power in Delhi in 2015 that the budget will not be presented by senior party leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who held the finance portfolio. The budget, this year, will be presented by Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot, who has been handed over the reins of the finance department following Sisodia's arrest in the excise policy case on February 26 and his resignation from the cabinet. After getting the finance portfolio, Gahlot has held several meetings with the ministry officials. Even before Sisodia's arrest, Gahlot was part of the budget-related meetings. "The budget session of the Delhi Assembly will commence on March 17 and the budget will be presented on March 21," said an official. The session will begin with Lt Governor VK Saxena's address. The 2022-23 budget was presented

As Madhya Pradesh election nears, one-third of Budget set aside for women

Women centric-budget in election year

Jharkhand govt tables Rs 1.16 trillion budget for FY'24 in Assembly

The Jharkhand government on Friday tabled a Rs 1.16 lakh crore budget for the 2023-24 fiscal in the assembly. The budgetary estimates for FY'24 were 15 per cent higher than the previous annual financial statement. The Hemant Soren government had presented a budget of Rs 1.01 lakh crore for the financial year 2022-23. "I lay on the table of the House a budget of Rs 1,16,418 crore for the financial year 2023-24," Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon said in the House. Members of the opposition BJP and AJSU Party staged a walk-out of the assembly during the budget speech by the state finance minister, alleging that it has no substance. Oraon announced that a programme with a cost of Rs 50 crore would be launched to encourage millet production in the state. The budget will meet aspirations of the poor, exploited, downtrodden people and bolster all-round development in the state, he said. Despite the formidable economic challenges, we strengthened the economy and took care of those who a

Jharkhand govt tables Rs 1.16 trillion budget for FY24 in assembly

The Jharkhand government on Friday tabled a Rs 1.16 lakh crore budget for the 2023-24 fiscal in the assembly. The budgetary estimates for FY24 were 15 per cent higher than the previous annual financial statement. The Hemant Soren government had presented a budget of Rs 1.01 lakh crore for the financial year 2022-23. "I lay on the table of the House a budget of Rs 1,16,418 crore for the financial year 2023-24," Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon said in the House. Members of the opposition BJP and AJSU Party staged a walk-out of the assembly during the budget speech by the state finance minister. He also announced that a programme with a cost of Rs 50 crore would be launched to encourage millet production in the state. The budget will meet aspirations of the poor, exploited, downtrodden people and bolster all-round development in the state, he said. The JMM-led coalition government has brought many innovative schemes that will pave the way for rapid economic growth in the state, th

PM to address post-budget webinar on developing tourism in mission mode

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a post-budget webinar on 'Developing Tourism in Mission Mode' on Friday, officials said. It is part of a series of 12 post-budget webinars being organised by the government to seek ideas and suggestions for effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget. Prime Minister Modi will address the participants via a video conferencing link. The Union Budget has stated that promotion of tourism will be taken up in mission mode, with active participation of states, convergence of government programmes and public-private partnerships. At least 50 destinations will be selected through challenge mode and developed as a complete package of tourism. Sector specific skilling and entrepreneurship development will be dovetailed to achieve the objectives of the 'Dekho Apna Desh'. The post-budget webinar being organised by the Ministry of Tourism will have six breakout sessions covering the priority areas identified in the Union ..

Bengaluru govt presents Rs 11,158 cr budget for FY24, gives push to infra

The Metropolitan Bengaluru Municipal Corporation administration on Thursday presented a budget of Rs 11,157.83 crore for the year 2023-24, giving a push to improve infrastructure with focus on easing traffic congestion, building grade separators, white topping of roads and better connectivity. Calling it an 'Atma Nirbhar Budget', the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Special Commissioner (Finance) Jayaram Rayapura said, "While the total receipts will be Rs 11,163.97 crore, the total expenditure will be Rs 11,157.83 crore, thereby resulting in a surplus budget of Rs 6.14 crore." The budget has been presented with a firm belief in the norm, "stretch your legs as much as your bed" and is aimed to bring financial discipline, self-reliance and self-sufficiency in the BBMP's finances, he said. Among the proposals are construction of 10 new city plazas in residential areas at a total cost of Rs 50 crore, Rayapura said in his budget speech. To address traffic congestion at bottlene

MP govt presents Rs 3.14 trn budget; Cong stages walkout from Assembly

The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday presented a Rs 3.14 lakh crore state budget for 2023-24, even as the Opposition Congress staged a walkout from the Assembly on the issue of hike in the LPG cylinder price. Congress members including former ministers Tarun Bhanot, Vijay Laxmi Sadho and Jitu Patwari created ruckus in the House over the LPG price hike issue the moment state Finance Minister Jagdish Devda started reading out the budget proposals. Later, the Congress members led by former chief minister Kamal Nath staged a walkout from the House. "The central government has increased the price of an LPG cylinder by Rs 50, Rs 300 on commercial cylinder, causing lot of hardships to the people," Bhanot told reporters. He demanded that like the Rajasthan government, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Madhya Pradesh also provide LPG cylinders at Rs 500 each (to people below poverty line). Earlier in the morning, Congress members staged a protest in front of the statue of ..

Pakistan has no food for its poor but purchases weapons, shows report

While Pakistan's citizens are queuing up for wheat flour, pulses and medicines, the Generals have usurped a major part of the Budget for new weapons, reported Afghan Diaspora Network (ADN)

Rs 1,000 monthly assistance scheme for women in TN Budget: CM Stalin

In his bypoll campaign here, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said that an announcement on the proposed date of launch of Rs 1,000 monthly assistance scheme for women heads of families would be made in the Budget to be presented next month in the Assembly. The hectic campaign by parties that stretched over a month for the February 27 Erode (East) bypoll ended at 6 PM and Stalin and AIADMK top leader K Palaniswami addressed people at a string of locations here seeking their votes. A day after Palaniswami targeted the ruling DMK over the so far unfulfilled promise of monthly assistance to women, Stalin said the date from which the assistance scheme would be implemented shall be made known in the Budget. The main opposition AIADMK swiftly flagged Stalin's announcement as a violation of the model code of conduct and wrote to the Returning Officer seeking appropriate action. In his subsequent address at another neighbourhood, Stalin said there was no violation of any rul

Siemens scaling new heights on strong performance, govt's infra thrust

Decent upside in the stock given that most analysts are positive with target prices ranging Rs 3,250-3,800