News for 'Union Budget'

Remember what we do when...: Fadnavis on 'cold war' with Shinde buzz

Remember what we do when...: Fadnavis on 'cold war' with Shinde buzz

Rediff.com3 Mar 2025

"It is just that Fadnavis and I have swapped our chairs. Only Ajit Pawar's chair is fixed," said Shinde, who was the CM before the assembly elections with Fadnavis and Pawar as his deputies then.

Removal of Aurangzeb's grave won't serve any purpose: Athawale

Removal of Aurangzeb's grave won't serve any purpose: Athawale

Rediff.com16 Mar 2025

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has voiced his opposition to the demand for demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's grave in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, saying its removal will not serve any purpose. Athawale said that since Aurangzeb was buried there, his tomb should remain undisturbed. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar administration has barred Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote from entering the district from March 16 to April 5 amid calls from some outfits to remove Aurangzeb's grave. Security has been heightened around the site and visitors are being checked thoroughly.

Govt to provide homes for 1cr urban poor, middle-class

Govt to provide homes for 1cr urban poor, middle-class

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

The government on Tuesday announced central assistance of Rs 2.2 lakh crore over the next five years to meet housing requirement of 1 crore urban poor and middle class families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban and proposed interest subsidy to provide loans at affordable rates. In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Under the PM Awas Yojana Urban 2.0, housing needs of 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families will be addressed with an investment of Rs 10 lakh crore." "This will include the central assistance of Rs 2.2 lakh crore in the next 5 years," she added.

'Industry Has To Help Us'

'Industry Has To Help Us'

Rediff.com16 Aug 2024

'There will be 200 ITIs developed as hubs, while 800 will be developed as spoke, connected with five National Skill Training Institutes.'

Sitharaman has no good news for taxpayers

Sitharaman has no good news for taxpayers

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said there are no changes in tax rates for direct and indirect taxes, including import duties. She also said the number of tax filers has swollen 2.4 times and the direct tax collection has trebled since 2014.

Opposition parties to meet ahead of 2nd phase of Budget session

Opposition parties to meet ahead of 2nd phase of Budget session

Rediff.com12 Mar 2023

The opposition leaders are expected to meet at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's office in the Parliament complex around 10 am, sources said.

Budget 2024: 'We have to be intelligent'

Budget 2024: 'We have to be intelligent'

Rediff.com1 Nov 2023

'The global situation is not very good.'

Over Rs 911 crore allocated for CBI in Budget

Over Rs 911 crore allocated for CBI in Budget

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

The agency was allocated Rs 835.39 crore to manage its affairs in 2021-22 which was later increased to Rs 870.50 crore in the Revised Estimates given in the Budget document released Tuesday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Budget 2019: What's costlier, what's cheaper

Budget 2019: What's costlier, what's cheaper

Rediff.com5 Jul 2019

A large number of items including petrol, diesel, gold, silver, cigarettes, fully-imported cars and split air conditioners will become more expensive due to hike in taxes, as proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget for 2019-20.

Stock markets edge down on STT, LTCG hike

Stock markets edge down on STT, LTCG hike

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

Adani Ports, NTPC, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, HCL Technologies and Sun Pharma were among the other big gainers. However, Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Finance, State Bank of India, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank were amonh the major laggards.

How Your Income, Investments Are Taxed

How Your Income, Investments Are Taxed

Rediff.com28 Nov 2024

Your choice between the Old and New Tax Regimes should reflect your financial strategy and investment goals, says Ramalingam Kalirajan

Here's how the Budget week can unfold

Here's how the Budget week can unfold

Rediff.com22 Feb 2012

Week beginning March 12 will unveil, one-by-one, new information and data that will have a bearing on Budget.

Budget: CBI gets nominal increase of just Rs 4 cr

Budget: CBI gets nominal increase of just Rs 4 cr

Rediff.com1 Feb 2020

This is an increment of about 0.50 per cent compared to the last budget.

Opposition parties slam budget as anti-people

Opposition parties slam budget as anti-people

Rediff.com16 Mar 2012

The Opposition parties on Friday slammed the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as "anti-people", "lacklustre" and one that would increase the financial burden on the common man.

3 Reasons Budget Stands Out!

3 Reasons Budget Stands Out!

Rediff.com2 Feb 2023

The finance minister has stayed true to her commitment to fiscal consolidation, even though the pace of the decline in the deficit could have been faster, notes A K Bhattacharya.

Highlights of Budget 2023-24

Highlights of Budget 2023-24

Rediff.com1 Feb 2023

Per capita income has more than doubled to Rs 1.97 lakh in around nine years. Indian economy has increased in size from being 10th to 5th largest in the world in the past nine years. Seven priorities of the Budget, 'Saptarishi', are inclusive development, reaching the last mile, infrastructure and investment, unleashing the potential, green growth, youth power and financial sector.

LS passes Rs 45L cr Budget 2023-24 without debate amid Oppn ruckus

LS passes Rs 45L cr Budget 2023-24 without debate amid Oppn ruckus

Rediff.com23 Mar 2023

The Lower House of Parliament took up the Demands for Grants and Appropriation Bills after two adjournments as the ruling and Opposition MPs engaged in a matching duet over demands for an apology by Rahul Gandhi and the Adani issue.

Officials Prepare For Modi 3.0

Officials Prepare For Modi 3.0

Rediff.com12 Apr 2024

Government departments have been tasked with identifying major goals, which will include annual targets from the financial year 2024-2025 to 2028-2029.

Sitharaman applauds rising sports stars in budget

Sitharaman applauds rising sports stars in budget

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman commended the outstanding performance of chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa

1st phase of Budget session concludes, LS to reconvene on March 8

1st phase of Budget session concludes, LS to reconvene on March 8

Rediff.com13 Feb 2021

The recess allows department-related standing committees to examine demands for grants of various ministries. The Finance Bill and related demands for grants are passed in the second phase of the Budget session.

Suspension of 14 Oppn MPs revoked day before budget session

Suspension of 14 Oppn MPs revoked day before budget session

Rediff.com30 Jan 2024

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha committees had recommended that their suspension be withdrawn after they expressed regret for their conduct during the Winter session when their relentless protests prompted the Chairs to take action.

BJP rolls out MPs, office-bearers to take Budget's message to people

BJP rolls out MPs, office-bearers to take Budget's message to people

Rediff.com3 Feb 2022

The Bharatiya Janata Party's office-bearers, members of Parliament and other leaders will fan out across the country to explain the merits of Union Budget 2022 to the people.

Post-Ukraine, Finance Minister Must Revisit Budget

Post-Ukraine, Finance Minister Must Revisit Budget

Rediff.com23 Mar 2022

Budget has already bombed at the box office and passing it without a revisit will be a mockery of the exercise though any modification may be short lived and perfunctory, observes V Ranganathan.

BJP asks Rahul Gandhi to explain 'frequent' Vietnam visits

BJP asks Rahul Gandhi to explain 'frequent' Vietnam visits

Rediff.com15 Mar 2025

The BJP has launched a fresh attack on Rahul Gandhi, questioning his frequent visits to Vietnam. The party's leaders have accused him of spending more time in the Southeast Asian country than his constituency and have demanded an explanation for his "extraordinary fondness" for Vietnam. Gandhi's foreign trips have been a target of the BJP's criticism in the past, with the party portraying him as unserious and unfit for domestic politics.

25 Indians on death row in UAE, govt tells RS

25 Indians on death row in UAE, govt tells RS

Rediff.com20 Mar 2025

The Indian government has informed Parliament that 25 Indian nationals have been sentenced to death in the UAE, but the judgments are yet to be implemented. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that 10,152 Indian prisoners, including undertrials, are currently incarcerated in foreign prisons. The government provides assistance to Indian nationals sentenced to death abroad, including consular access and legal aid. In the past five years, Indian nationals have been executed in Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The UAE authorities have not shared any data regarding the execution of Indians, but informal information suggests no executions have occurred since 2020.

Govt allocates Rs 928 cr to CBI, down by Rs 40 cr from FY 2024

Govt allocates Rs 928 cr to CBI, down by Rs 40 cr from FY 2024

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

The agency had received Rs 946.51 crore to manage its affairs in the Budget Estimates for 2023-24, which was later increased to Rs 968.86 crore in the Revised Estimates.

Sitharaman meets President Kovind ahead of Budget speech

Sitharaman meets President Kovind ahead of Budget speech

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday called on President Ram Nath Kovind before presenting the Union Budget 2021-22. As per established tradition, the Finance Minister met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhawan before heading to Parliament. The Union Cabinet will meet at 10.15 am to clear the Budget.

Budget session of Parliament from January 29

Budget session of Parliament from January 29

Rediff.com14 Jan 2021

A communication from the Lok Sabha Secretariat said on Thursday that the session would conclude on April 8.

Only 12% Indian households can afford to buy a car: Maruti's Bhargava

Only 12% Indian households can afford to buy a car: Maruti's Bhargava

Rediff.com28 Apr 2025

Car purchases in India are largely limited to the top 12 per cent of households with an annual income exceeding Rs 12 lakh, while even small cars have become unaffordable for the remaining 88 per cent, said R C Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), on Friday. "How can you get high car sales growth if 88 per cent of the country are below the levels of income where they cannot afford these cars costing Rs 10 lakhs and above?

Kerala church daily bats in favour of Waqf amendment bill

Kerala church daily bats in favour of Waqf amendment bill

Rediff.com1 Apr 2025

A leading Catholic Church daily in Kerala has described the Waqf amendment bill as a crucial test of secularism in Parliament, urging MPs to support it. The editorial in Deepika daily comes as the union government prepares to table the bill for parliamentary consideration. The editorial calls the bill a test of secularism and warns MPs that failing to support it would mark them in history as endorsing religious fundamentalism. The paper added that the bill will also put an end to the injustices faced by thousands of Hindu, Christian, and Muslim citizens who have suffered due to the Waqf law. The editorial also recalled the recent statement addressed to Kerala MPs by Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) where the KCBC President Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos urged amending provisions in the Waqf law that validate claims over land which people of Munambam have lawfully possessed. Opposition parties have slammed the bill as "unconstitutional" and against the interest of the Muslim community.

Fiscal deficit touches 128.5% of budget estimate

Fiscal deficit touches 128.5% of budget estimate

Rediff.com28 Feb 2020

While presenting the Union Budget to Parliament earlier this month, Finance Minister Nirmalal Sitharaman had raised fiscal deficit target to 3.8 per cent of the GDP from 3.3 per cent pegged earlier for 2019-20 due to revenue shortage.

Sitharaman's pre-election budget shuns populism, boosts infra spend

Sitharaman's pre-election budget shuns populism, boosts infra spend

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced a Rs 11.11 lakh crore spending on infrastructure and vowed to continue reforms as she resisted resorting to populist measures in Modi government's last Budget before general elections, instead choosing to stay on the path of cutting deficit while bolstering measures for focus groups.

AIMPLB urges Muslims to wear black armbands during juma to protest Waqf Bill

AIMPLB urges Muslims to wear black armbands during juma to protest Waqf Bill

Rediff.com28 Mar 2025

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has urged Muslims to wear a black armband on their right hand during Juma prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan as a mark of protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The AIMPLB has been vocal in its opposition to the Bill, calling it "controversial, discriminatory and damaging." The organization has planned nationwide protests against the Bill, with large sit-ins scheduled in several cities.

Budget Session of Parliament to begin today with President's address

Budget Session of Parliament to begin today with President's address

Rediff.com31 Jan 2022

The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on April 8 wherein the first part of the session will extend up to February 11, said the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Sunday.

Budget hits sweet spot, says Modi, highlighting Rs 11.11L cr expenditure

Budget hits sweet spot, says Modi, highlighting Rs 11.11L cr expenditure

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the interim Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman offers the "guarantee" of strengthening the foundation of a developed India and carries the "confidence of continuity".

Chidambaram condemns Budget as 'most capitalist'

Chidambaram condemns Budget as 'most capitalist'

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

Congress leader and ex-finance minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said the Union Budget was the "most capitalist" with nothing for the poor and farmers while sops were being provided to big industrialists turning India into a very "unequal country". At a press conference after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a Rs 39.45 lakh crore Budget, he said because of the ruling party's "brute majority" the Lok Sabha pass the Budget but people will reject it. He claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party was going to elections, scheduled in five states, not with their performance or with the promises and assurances to the people, but solely "with the agenda of dividing the country and bringing Hindutva back to power".

Many Oppn CMs to stay away from Modi's Niti Aayog meet

Many Oppn CMs to stay away from Modi's Niti Aayog meet

Rediff.com26 Jul 2024

Chief ministers of three Congress-ruled states -- Karnataka's Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh's Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Telangana's Revanth Reddy -- have announced they will not attend the NITI Aayog meeting over alleged bias against their states in the Union Budget.

Sitharaman holds meet for 'time-bound' completion of Budget schemes

Sitharaman holds meet for 'time-bound' completion of Budget schemes

Rediff.com5 Jul 2023

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday met top officials of the finance and corporate affairs ministries to review the implementation of various announcements of the Union Budget FY24. "The finance minister underlined the importance of continuous assessment of progress to ensure that various announcements are implemented in a time-bound manner," the finance ministry said in a tweet. Sitharaman also discussed in detail various issues on the digital competition laws with Rajeev Chandrashekhar, the minister of state for entrepreneurship, skill development, electronics and technology.

FMCG, telecom and select IT shares help markets touch record highs

FMCG, telecom and select IT shares help markets touch record highs

Rediff.com16 Jul 2024

Among Sensex shares, Hindustan Unilever, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI Bank, ITC and Asian Paints were the biggest winners. On the other hand, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Reliance Industries, NTPC, UltraTech Cement and Power Grid were among the laggards.

Govt doubles Mudra loan limit to Rs 20 lakh to promote entrepreneurship

Govt doubles Mudra loan limit to Rs 20 lakh to promote entrepreneurship

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced the doubling of the upper limit of Mudra loans to Rs 20 lakh to promote entrepreneurship in the country. "The limit of Mudra loans will be enhanced to Rs 20 lakh from the current Rs 10 lakh for those entrepreneurs who have availed and successfully repaid previous loans under the 'Tarun category', she said while presenting the Budget in the Lok Sabha.