Budget 2013-14: Rs. 2 trillion for defence sector

February 28, 2013

chiduNew Delhi, Feb 28: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presented one of the most highly anticipated Indian budgets of recent years on Thursday, as the government looks to rein in a bloated fiscal deficit and restore confidence in Asia's third-largest economy.

Following are highlights of the budget:

Rs. 2 trillion for defence sector

First housing loan up to Rs 25 lakh would get additional deduction of interest of up to Rs 1 lakh

Insurance companies can now open branches in Tier 2 cities and below without prior approval. All towns of India with a population of 10000 or more will have an LIC branch and one other public sector insurance company.

Income limit for the tax-saving Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme is raised to Rs. 12 lakh from Rs. 10 lakh

All public-sector banks have assured the Finance Minister that they will all have ATMs in their branch areas by 2014

India's first women's bank as a PSU proposed, Rs. 1,000 crore working capital announced

Regulatory authority to be set up for road sector

Four Infrastructure debt funds have been registered

Rs 7 lakh crore target fixed for agri credit for 2013—14 compared to Rs 5.75 lakh crore in the current year.

Eastern Indian states to get Rs 1,000 crore allocation for improving agricultural production.

Green revolution in east India significant. Rice output increased in Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal;

Rs 500 crore allocated for programme on crop diversification

Average annual growth rate of agriculture and allied services estimated at 3.6 per cent in 2012—13 when 250 MT foodgrains was produced

Rs 27,049 crore allocation to the Agriculture Ministry in 2013—14

Rs 14,873 crore for JNNURM for urban transportation in 2013—14 against Rs 7,880 crore in the current fiscal

Foodgrain production in 2012—13 will be over 250 million tons

Rs 15,260 crore to be allocated to Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Rs 80,194 crore allocation for Ministry of Rural Development in 2013—14. About Rs 33,000 crore for MGNREGA

Rs. 5,000 crore for NABARD for agri storage facilities

Godowns to be constructed with help of panchayats. Food grain productions have been raised drastically and only increase with each year.

Rs 17,700 crore to be allocated for Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS): FM.

“National Food security bill is a promise of the UPA government. I hope the bill be passed as soon as possible. I have set apart Rs 10,000 crore to the expected cost of the act.”

An Institute for agricultural biotechnology will be set up in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Rs 1069 crore allocated to Department of Aryush: FM

Rs 4,727 crore to be allocated for medical education and research. Rs 1,069 crore to be given to Department of Ayush.

Medical colleges in six more AIIMS—like institutions to start functioning this year; Rs 1650 crore allocated for the purpose.

Rs 37,330 crore allocated for Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Rs 110 crore to be allocated to the department of disability affairs, says FM.

Additional sum of Rs 200 crore to Women and Child Welfare Ministry to address issues of vulnerable women.

Rs 3511 crore allocated to Minority Affairs Ministry which is 60 per cent of the revised estimates.

Rs 13215 crore for mid-day meal programme: Chidambaram

The idea of setting up a PNGSY-2 causes uproar in the Parliament. The minister is interrupted the round of shouting, who clarifies that states that have completed PNGSY -1 will get the second version, the rest will continue under the first version

The Right to Education Act is firmly in place, says Chidambaram, while announcing Rs. 27,250 crore to Sarva Shikhsa Abhiyaan in FY14.

The Human Resources Development ministry meanwhile gets Rs. 65,867 crore, a rise of 17% from revised estimates.

"Government committed to reconstruction of Nalanda University" - But no specific funds for the project was announced.

Chidambaram announces additional fund allocation of Rs 200 crore to the Women and Child Development Ministry. He says women 'belonging to the most vulnerable groups must be able to live with self-esteem and dignity'.

169 crore given for development of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani (Natural medicine) and homeopathy

Rs 41,561 crore for SC plan and Rs 24,598 crore for tribal plan. The move comes with a strong statement

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 31: People offered Eid-al-Adha namaz while ensuring social distancing norms at mosques in Thiruvananthapuram and Mallapuram on Friday.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had on Thursday announced that the Eid-al-Adha prayers can be offered in mosques of the state on Friday with a limited number of people due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kerala is celebrating the festival of Eid-al-Adha on Friday.

Eid al-Adha or Bakrid, also known as "Sacrifice Feast" is marked by sacrificing an animal, usually a sheep or a goat to prove their devotion and love for Allah. Post the sacrifice, devotees distribute the offering to family, friends, neighbours and especially to the poor and the needy. 

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News Network
June 15,2020

New Delhi, Jun 15: Two officials working with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad have reportedly gone missing, sources said.

The two officials are untraceable for the last few hours.

Recently news agency reported on how Pakistan 's spy agency ISI has been tailing and harassing Indian officials and also increased their presence at the residence of Acting High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia.

This incident came in the backdrop when two Pakistani officials were caught red-handed and sent back trying to collect classified information and spying in Delhi.

South block is watching the developments closely, the Indian mission has also launched a complaint with local authorities and taken up the matter Pakistan Foreign Ministry.

This incident can cause a further dip in the already tense India-Pakistan relations.

Earlier in the month, India deported two Pakistani officials for espionage activities in India.

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Agencies
July 21,2020

New Delhi, Jul 21: The Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Finance to look into a plea which claimed a loss of hundreds of crore every day, as the public sector banks are not invoking personal guarantees of big corporates who have defaulted on loans.

A bench comprising Justice R. F. Nariman and Navin Sinha asked the petitioners, Saurabh Jain and Rahul Sharma, who filed the PIL, to move the Finance Ministry with a representation within two weeks. The top court observed that the issue is important and the ministry should respond after the petitioner has made the representation before it. The matter had come up for hearing on Monday.

"We are of the view that at page 115 of the Writ Petition it has been made clear that the Ministry of Finance itself has, by a Circular, directed personal guarantees issued by promoters/managerial personnel to be invoked. According to the petitioners, despite this Circular, Public Sector Undertakings continue not to invoke such guarantees resulting in huge loss not only to the public exchequer but also to the common man", said the bench in its order.

Senior advocate Manan Mishra and advocate Durga Dutt, represented the petitioners.

Mishra contended before the bench that the statistics establish the public sector banks incurred a loss of approximately Rs 1.85 lakh crore in a financial year, and the banks did not take action to invoke personal guarantees of the biggest corporate defaulters.

The bench observed that since the petitioners claim the public sector undertakings are not complying with this circular, "We think you should first go to the ministry," said the bench.

Mishra argued before the bench that the loans from a common man are recovered through a mechanism where officials go through even the minutest detail, but promoters, chairpersons and other senior level functionaries of the big corporates find it convenient to get away by defaulting on loans.

The bench told the petitioner's counsel that the Finance Ministry has already issued a notification on this matter, and the petitioners should seek response from the ministry, and then move the top court. Mishra submitted before the bench to issue a direction to the Finance Ministry to give a response on their representation.

The bench said, "We allow the petitioners, at this stage, to withdraw this Writ Petition and approach the Ministry of Finance with a representation in this behalf. The representation will be made within a period of two weeks from today. The Ministry of Finance is directed to reply to the said representation within a period of four weeks after receiving such representation. With these observations, the petition is allowed to be withdrawn to do the needful."

Mishra contended before the bench seeking liberty to come back after a reply from the Finance Ministry. Justice Nariman said this option is open for petitioners after a decision has been taken by the ministry. "We will hear you", added Justice Nariman.

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