The mega campaign, to start on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, will be conducted just before the elections in three major Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states and also before the 2019 general elections.
In what could trigger another round of rate cut war, National Housing Bank on Wednesday slashed lending rates by 0.40-0.65 per cent just two weeks before the Reserve Bank of India announces its busy season credit policy.
Budget-makers in North Block are looking to maintain this fiscal status quo, in spite of tax revenues nowhere close to where the government wants and in spite of possible higher expenditure commitments.
The government had breached its fiscal deficit target given in the Budget for 2017-18 in November itself, touching 112 per cent of the limit.
The extra borrowing implies Jaitley will have extra spending space in the Union Budget for FY19, the last full one before the 2019 general election
The corporate sector took production cuts, conducted inventory management and reduced staff to meet challenges following the govt's note ban decision
'This may be good news for Rahul Gandhi, for no matter how Modi performs, there will always be some degree of dissatisfaction with his performance among large sections of voters,' says R Jagannathan.
Relax fiscal consolidation, boost public capex and reduce cost of finance, industry tells Centre
Modi to dilute pro-business changes to land bill.
Narendra Modi has made it easier for businesses to buy farm land.
'Genuine mistakes can and must be forgiven,' argues Vivek Gumaste.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com lists 11 Modi flagship schemes that may have been gamechangers in the Lok Sabha election.
Restrictions on buying land are among barriers holding up projects worth almost $300 billion
'If some measures are implemented quickly, they can help revive growth.'
Beyond welfare politics, the BJP has assiduously worked to appropriate regional icons.
A'Market valuation is another concern.'
'India is trading at steep valuations and there have been a number of IPOs, especially in the insurance sector, that have had an impact on secondary market liquidity.'
Cement shares have been outperformers on the stock market
Surendra Hiranandani -- chairman and managing director, House of Hiranandani -- explains what ails India's housing sector and indicates the way forward.
Right now the challenge before the government is to double the speed of construction in order to complete the remaining 6.6 million houses before March 2019.
The fiscal policy, he said, needs to be better and the first priority should be to address areas that are like low-hanging fruits
As PM talks of lower lending rates, housing companies prepare to cash in.
'While GST and demonetisation are likely to cause disruption for longer than the market currently expects, they can have meaningful positive impact over the medium-term.'
Modi said bribery was not possible as the money was transferred directly into accounts of the beneficiaries.
No one expects the government to publicly concede policy mistakes. But it can shed denial; and, stop the point-winning debating style to the formulation of public policy, says Rahul Khullar.
'Rather than an outcome of 'pro-incumbency', the exit poll results betray a completely lackadaisical approach of the Opposition parties.' 'While a new kind of politics was on display for the past five years, they were still mired in their old-style methods which will cost them the election,' predicts Utkarsh Mishra.
In a conversation with Vishal Chhabria and Hamsini Karthik, Gautam Chhaochharia, executive director & head, India Research, UBS, explains why implementing goods and services tax (GST) may not be as disruptive as many perceive it to be. But, he warns investors shouldn't have high expectations on corporate earnings.
Railways, rural infrastructure, urban rejuvenation, solar and transmission and distribution of electricity are the new priorities, says Vinayak Chatterjee.
Official panel points to bid deficiencies in rural job guarantee, pensions, housing and other programmes.
Financial inclusion has been on the top of the govt's top agenda.
The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill and The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill passed amid din.
A sum of Rs 7060 crore is provided in the current fiscal for the project of developing one hundred Smart Cities.
Higher disposable incomes, rural push and infra push to boost auto sector
Union Budget 2014-15 is positive for metals and mining companies.
Banks to be permitted to raise long-term funds for lending to infrastructure sector with minimum regulatory pre-emption such as CRR, SLR and Priority Sector Lending.
'Prices are rock, bottom, developers are ready to negotiate and banks are keen to lend.'
Delayed project delivery and unrealistically high real estate prices, which developers are unwilling to lower despite piled up inventories, have adversely hit the sector.
'One thing is sure: After this Budget, no Ambani-Adani tag will be attached to the government.'
With clouds of storm hovering over Parliament's budget session, President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday sought the "cooperation" of all MPs in the smooth conduct of legislative business but gave no indication of plans to bring changes in the controversial land acquisition ordinance.
PM extended some old schemes and finally said yes to one that was legally mandated for past 2 years.
The industry status will help the sector access bank lending at average interest rates
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