Eight new satellites, mission to the moon, the country's first large-scale desalination plant near Chennai and a big boost to agricultural biotechnology are the highlights of the new Budget announced on Thursday.

The new government has tried to please the scientific community by increasing the allocation for science and technology by about 15 per cent over last year.

However, the provision for military research for the year 2004-05 has decreased from Rs 2699 crore (Rs 26.99 billion) to Rs 2343 crore (Rs 23.43 billion).

The space department will spend Rs 490 crore (Rs 4.9 billion) in the development of an improved version of geostationary satellite launch vehicle (that can lift four-tonne payload and nearly Rs 450 crore (Rs 4.5 billion) in the development and launching of eight new satellites, including one that will produce imageries of one metre resolution (Cartosat 2).

Overall, Rs 13,584 crore (Rs 135.84 billion) has been allocated this year for research in various areas of science and technology.

In keeping with its commitment in the Common Minimum Programme, the Congress-led government has laid an emphasis on agricultural biotechnology. It has allocated Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) for agricultural research. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has got Rs 1753 crore (Rs 17.53 billion) compared to last year's Rs 1511

Crore (Rs 15.11 billion).