The budget overall is very pro growth and should help the economy sustain a high growth path.
As such markets also should do well and are poised for a strong uptrend post the global markets stabilizing over the next few days.
Overall we maintain our one year target of 23000 sensex and three year target of 32000.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Highlights of the Union Budget for 2008-09
Following are the highlights of the Union Budget for 2008-09 (Apr-Mar) presented by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today:
GROWTH, INFLATION
• India growth story interesting, inspiring
• Manufacturing, services to grow 10.7%, 9.4% respectively
• Confident of 8.8% GDP growth in FY08
• FY08 H1 GDP growth was 9.1%
• FY08 most challenging of last 4 years
• 12 successive quarters of over 8% GDP growth until December
• 8.7% GDP growth seen FY08 as per CSO estimates
• Second year of plan extremely critical
• Farm growth seen 2.6% FY08
• FY09 year of consolidation, implementation, monitoring
• Must be vigilant, swift for growth with price stability
• Keeping inflation in check remains cornerstone of policy
.
DIRECT TAXES
• Banking transaction tax to be withdrawn from April 1 2009
• Commodities transaction tax to be imposed in line with STT
• Short term capital gains tax raised from 10% to 15%
• Tax on income above Rs 5 lakh-30%
• Tax on income between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh-20%
• Tax on income between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh-10%
• Tax on income upto Rs 1.5 lakh-Nil
• Threshold limit for all IT assesses increased from 110,000 to 150,000
• Threshold level for small service providers to be increased
• Service tax on money changers, tour operators
• Excise duty reduced to nil on anti-AIDS drugs
• Excise duty reduced on automobiles (buses, small cars)
• General CENVAT rate reduced
• Customs duty on crude reduced from 5% to 2%
• Customs duty for convergence products (media, telecom) reduced to 5%
• Peak rate of customs duty for project imports reduced
• Peak rate of customs duty for non-agricultural products maintained at 10%
• Agriculture income exempt from income tax
• Demat corp debt instruments exempt from TDS
• Reverse mortgage income won't be considered income for tax
• 10% income tax for 150,000-300,000 rupees income
• Stock, commodity bourses under service tax net
• All income tax payers get minimum relief of 4,000 rupee/yr
• 30% income tax for income above 500,000 rupees
• I-T threshold for women 180,000 rupees vs 145,000 rupees
• No change in corporate income tax, surcharge
• Direct tax proposals revenue neutral
• No change in securities transaction tax
• Short-term capital gains tax 15% vs 10%
• Introduces STT for commodity futures trades
• Dividend distribution tax to be 15%
• Deduction of STT paid allowed
• Can setoff dividend income from arms vs dividend tax
• Exemption limit for small service providers 1 mln rupee/yr
• Services contribute 55% of GDP
• Svc sector to get amortisation benefit
• 5 yr tax holiday for hospitals set up to serve rural areas
• To up short-term capital gains tax to 15% in some cases
• High growth rates helped boost tax revenue collection
• Senior citizen I-T threshold 225,000 rupees vs 195,000
• Production of seeds added to VAT list
• 30% income tax on over 500,000 rupees per year
• FBT exemption to creche facility, guest houses
• 125% weighted deduction for research co on R&D outsourcing
• 5-yr IT holiday for 2, 3, 4-star hotels in some districts
• Chrome ore export duty up at 3,000 rupee/tn vs 2,000 rupee
• To withdraw bank cash transaction tax by Apr 1, 2009
• Goods & services tax to come into effect from Apr 1, 2010
• Central sales tax to be 2% from April vs 3% now
• 15,000 rupees more 80D cut on parents' insurance premium
.
INDIRECT TAXES
• Indirect tax proposals revenue loss 59 bln rupees
• Not surprised with buoyancy in tax revenues
• Excise duty on 2 wheelers, 3-wheelers cut to 12% vs 16%
• Excise on small cars cut to 12% vs 16%
• Customs duty on vitamin food, mineral food cut to 20%
• Customs duty on phosphoric acid 5% vs 7.5%
• Some cuts in customs to protect industry
• On course to exceed budget estimate of indirect taxes
• Customs duty on some bulk drugs cut to 5% vs 10%
• Customs duty on project imports cut to 5% vs 7.5%
• Customs duty steel scrap cut to 0% vs 5%
• No change in peak rate of customs duty
• Customs duty on crude sulphur 2% vs 5%
• Fully exempt rough cut stones from import duty
• Raw material for sports goods exempt from customs duty
• Customs duty on unrefined sulphur cut to 2% vs 5%
• Customs duty exemption for set top boxes in IT hardware
• Customs duty on sports goods cut to 5% vs 7.5%
• To give 34.43 bln rupees to social security scheme FY09
• Customs duty on specialised machinery cut to 5% vs 7.5%
• Customs on steel melting, aluminium melting scrap 0% vs 5%
• Some IT, hardware components exempted from Customs duty
• Excise on hybrid cars cut to 14% vs 25%
• Excise duty on paper cut to 8% vs 12%
• Customs duty on edible oils left unchanged
• General CENVAT rate on all goods cut to 14% from 16%
• Excise duty on pharma goods cut to 8% vs 16%
• FY08 tax to GDP ratio 12.5% vs 9.2% inherited by UPA govt
• Customs duty on rough coral 5% vs 10%
• Customs duty on crude/unrefined sulphur cut to 2% vs 5%
• Customs exempt to continue only for naptha for fertiliser
• Excise duty on water purifiers cut to 8% vs 16%
• Excise cut on all pharmaceutical goods to 8% from 16%
• Excise duty on bus chassis 12% vs 16%
• No excise duty on anti-AIDS drugs
• Excise duty on some paper types cut to 10% vs 12%
• Wireless data card exempt from excise duty
• Excise duty on some writing, printing paper 8% vs 12%
• Excise duty of 1% on polyester filament yarn removed
• Cement Excise: Higher of 14% advolorem or 400 rupees/tn
• Filter, non-filter cigarettes to be taxed at par
• Abolish ad valorem component on unbranded petrol, diesel
• Excise on refrigeration units above 2 tn cut
• Filter, non-filter cigarettes to be taxed at higher rate
• Excise duty on packaged software 12% vs 8%
• Excise duty on bulk cement 400 rupees/tonne
• Excise on packaged software hiked to 12% from 8%
• Excise duty on packaging software upped to 12%
• Money changers, tour operators to come under svc tax net
• Excise duty also exempted on packaged coconut water
• Excise duty exemption for coffee mixes, puffed rice
• Svc tax net to include svc by shr, commodity exchanges
• Excise duty exempted on wireless data cards
• Svc tax net to include asset management svc of ULIPs
• Excise duty on unbranded diesel to be 4.6 rupees/litre
GLOBAL IMPACT
• Capital inflows in excess of economic deficit
• Capital inflows need to be managed more actively
• To take steps on foreign inflows to ensure stable markets
• Downside risks have increased worldwide
• Global markets weak since August, impact on local market not clear
• Govt will monitor foreign fund inflows
• Chidambaram says need to be vigilant on global risks
• Impact of US slowdown on emerging mkts not clear yet
• Outlook for global econ benign early FY08
.
FISCAL
• Govt targets FY09 fiscal deficit at 2.5% of GDP
• Govt targets FY09 fiscal deficit 1.33 trln rupees
• FY09 non-plan expenditure seen 5.70 trln rupees
• FY09 plan expenditure seen 2.43 trln rupees
• One more year needed to remove revenue deficit
• Fiscal deficit not only achieved but also some headroom
• FY09 revenue deficit 551.84 bln rupees, 1% of GDP
• FY09 revenue expenditure projected at 6.58 trln rupees
• Govt targets FY09 fiscal deficit at 3.1% of GDP vs 3.3%
.
SPENDING
• Additional 100 bln rupees plan capital expenditure this yr
• FY09 defence allocation 1.056 trln rupees vs 960 bln
• Defence allocation up by 10%
• Sets aside 5 bln rupee for Arunachal, border develop plan
• 73 bln rupee for Rajiv drinking water plan FY09 vs 65 bln
• 3 bln rupees for desalination plant in Chennai in FY09
• 2 bln rupee initial outlay for drinking water in schools
• Allocation for northeast 164.47 bln rupees vs 143.65 bln
• FY09 ministry of minority allocation at 10 bln rupees
• Nehru Urban Renewal Mission outlay up at 68.66 bln rupee
• 68.66 bln rupees for Jawaharlal Urban plan vs 54.82 bln
• FY09 Integrated Child Development Plan sum 63 bln rupees
• Scheduled Tribe Fin Corp gets 500 mln rupees allocation
• National Agri Insurance Plan to get 6.4 bln rupees FY09
• Food security scheme allocation 48.82 bln rupees
• IT department allocation 16.80 bln rupees vs 15 bln
• 44% of backward regions' grant to UP, Bihar, Orissa
.
LOAN WAIVER
• Farmers' debt worth 500 bln rupees to be waived off
• 40 mln farmers to benefit from loan waiver scheme
• Complete waiver of all loans for marginal, small farmers
• Loan waiver for marginal farmers holding up to 1 ha
• 11 bln rupees for National Horticulture Mission FY09
• Farm loans by bank, RRBs, co-op bks until Mar 07 covered
• Farm loan waiver scheme to be completed Jun 30
• Farmers can get fresh loans after debt reschedule
• Farm loan waiver to cover 600 bln rupees of loans
• Debt waiver scheme implementation to be completed by Jun
• Loan waiver scheme to be completed by June
• Waiver also for farm loans recast by banks since 2005, 2006
• Rescheduled farm loans will also be eligible for waiver
• One-time settlement scheme for "other farmers"
• Farm loan waiver scheme liability 600 bln rupees
• Loans worth 500 bln rupees to be waived under scheme
• 10 mln other farmers to also gain from loan waiver
• 30 mln small, marginal farmers to benefit from waiver
• 30 mln small, medium farmer to gain from loan waiver
.
SOCIAL SECTOR
• India midday meal scheme is world's largest
• 182,000 girls in residential schools under Kasturba plan
• 114 mln children covered by midday meal scheme
• FY09 2nd year of plan should be year of consolidation
• 52 villages per day get phone connections under Bharat Nirman
• 4,113 rural villages computerised everyday.
• 42 villages/day get power connections under Bharat Nirman
• "Can do better" on ensuring more inclusive growth
• Noon meal scheme to be extended to upper primary schools
• Mid-day meal plan to be extended to all blocks in country
• Midday meal scheme extended to all govt schools
• Mid-day meal plan extension to help 25 mln children
• Cleanliness drive allocation upped to 12 bln rupees FY09
• More equity to Commissions for minorities, SC/ST
• SC, ST, minorities to continue getting special attention
• Northeast, especially Arunachal, face "special problem"
• Plan to give potable water to schools in scarcity areas
• FY09 plan for districts with minorities 37.8 bln rupees
• 288 more bank branches by Mar in mainly minority districts
• 2 bln rupees for new potable water plan for schools FY09
• Paramilitary forces to have more SC, ST candidates
• Initial grant for potable water in schools 2 bln rupee
• Potable water in schools cost 15,000-30,000 rupee/system
• Non-profit cooperation fund for national skill development
• Need to set up world class skill development programme
• Smart card based PDS food delivery in Haryana, Chandigarh
• 3 social security schemes for unorganised workers FY09
• National Handicapped Corporation to get 90 mln rupees
.
FARM, RURAL SECTOR
• Food grain adequacy will be a challenge in FY09.
• Farm credit seen 2.4 trln rupees by March end.
• Promises new initiatives for agriculture.
• Cotton output seen at 23.38 mln bales FY08.
• Cotton output estimated 24.38 mln bales.
• Maize output seen at 65.78 mln tn FY08.
• 88% rise in wheat prices, 15% rise in rice prices.
• Soybean output estimated 9.45 mln tn.
• Rice output seen at 94.08 mln tn FY08.
• Maize output estimated 16.7 mln tn.
• FY08 food grains output at record high of 219.32 mln tn.
• Rice output estimated 94 mln tn.
• FY09 farm credit aim 2.8 trln rupees
• Farm credit growth impressive
• Gross capital formation in farm 12.5% of GDP FY07
• Aims to up farm contribution to GDP to 1.6% in 11th plan
• Crucial to manage inflow of food supply
• FY09 agri credit target 2.8 trln rupees
• 16 bln rupee interest subvention for short-term crop loan
• 900,000 ha to be developed under World Bank aid
• Irrigation Resources Finance to have 1 bln rupee capital
• More pacts with World Bank likely for Orissa, W Bengal
• To set up Irrigation, Water Resources Finance Corp
• 548,000 ha brought under irrigation in last 2 years
• To give 2.8 trln rupees of loans to farm sector FY09
• Funds for rain-fed area 3.48 bln rupees FY09
• 24 major, 750 minor irrigation projects in FY09
• Education plan to up retention, upgrade learning quality
• To cover 400,000 ha more in micro, dip irrigation
• Irrigation outlay 200 bln rupees FY09 vs 110 bln yr ago
• IWRFC to be incorporated as company before Mar
• Rubber Fund to get 190 mln rupees FY09
• Coconut, cashew, pepper to get priority for crop revival
• Special purpose Tea Fund to get 400 mln rupees FY09
• 56,000 old plantations revived under horticulture mission
• To stress on revival of coconut, cashew, pepper crops
• To set up 500 soil testing labs as PPP in 11th plan
• 276,000 ha brought under horticulture
• To incorporate new water commission before Mar 31
• Have planned crop insurance scheme for spices next yr
• 180 mln rupees allocation for coffee in FY09
• 50-mln-rupee one-time fund to Trivandrum plantation unit
• 400 bln rupees allocation for special purpose tea fund
• 200 mln rupee grant for Tea Research Association
• 750 mln rupees for farm ministry for mobile soil testing
• Perpetual fund for Rubber, Cardamom, few others FY09
• Have planned crop insurance scheme for spices next year
• Determined to be self-sufficient in foodgrain output
• 200 mln rupees for tea research
• To set up mobile soil testing labs in 230 districts
• 40 bln rupees for rural roads in FY09
• RIDF corpus up 140 bln rupees in FY09
.
NON-FARM COMMODITIES
• Global crude oil prices sharply up.
• Crude oil, iron ore, copper, lead, tin prices elevated.
.
SUBSIDY
• To give 326.67 bln rupees for food subsidy under PDS FY09
• Fertiliser subsidy to continue
• Mulling new structure for fertiliser subsidy scheme
• To continue providing fertilisers at subsidised rate
• National Agri Insurance Plan to get 6.4 bln rupees FY09
• Looking at moving to nutrient-based fertiliser subsidies
.
INDUSTRY
• Policy is to list PSUs to unlock their true value
• Aiming to take manufacturing growth rate to double digits
• Manufacturing industries, apparel, paper growing slower
• Manufacturing sector growing more slowly
• 20% growth in capital goods
• IIP for consumer goods, durables down in FY08
• Govt to list more arms to unlock value
• Some fiscal steps to be taken to boost industrial growth
• 55 bln rupees for Rajiv electrification plan in FY09
• National fund for power transmission, distribution
• Double-digit manufacturing growth in coal, power, steel
• 8 bln rupees for accelerated power reform plan FY09
• Power generation capacity target in 11th plan 78,577MW
• Tilaiya ultra mega power project to be awarded shortly
• Sharp fall in consumer goods growth in Apr-Dec
• Micro, small enterprises to continue to get govt aid
.
FINANCIAL SECTOR
• To extend sr citizens pension plan to all above 65 yrs
• To give 10 bln rupees to LIC for Aam Admi Bima Yojana
• Govt to ask bks to meet credit needs of self-help groups
• Home loans for poor brought under banks' DRI scheme
• LIC to cover 10mln landless farmer in social security plan
• Aam Aadmi Bima Yojna to cover 10 mln households by Sep 30
• 20-bln-rupee SIDBI fund for risk financing
• 50-bln-rupee fund in NABARD to up short-term loans
• To launch exchange traded FX, rate derivative mkt
• To expand market for corporate bonds
• 50 bln rupee NABARD fund for short-term co-ops' lending
• Banks to embrace total financial inclusion concept
• 288 PSU bank branches to be opened in backward areas by Mar
• Will work with RBI for temporary steps to moderate inflow
• 256 new bank branches opened in minority districts
• 75-79% of farm lending has come from rural, small banks
• 75% of farm credit by scheduled commercial banks
• 256 PSU bank branches opened in 2007
• 288 more PSU bank branches to be set up by Mar
• To create risk capital fund in SIDBI
• Micro, small, medium cos continue to be priority
• Fund for TUFS up to 10.9 bln rupees vs 9 bln rupees
• Banks, RRBs to add 250 accounts/yr per rural branch
• "Measured steps" to continue in financial sector reforms
• SIDBI cuts SSIs annual services fees to 0.5% from 0.75%
• Risk capital fund for micro, small, medium cos under SIDBI
• To ask states to help develop national securities mkt
• PAN requirement extended to all financial mkts
• PAN sole identification number in securities market
• There is no seamless national market for securities
• Differences in duties, levies hampering securities mkt
• PSU bks to give DRI scheme home loans at 4% interest rate
.
TRADE
• Rupee up 9.8% from Apr 2007
• Relief to exporters in FY09 to continue as required
• To develop handloom cluster at Varanasi, Shivsagar
• Apr-Dec merchandise export growth 21.8%
• Merchandise exports to fall short of target
• 3.40 bln rupees for weavers insurance scheme in FY09
• Interest spend on MSS is subsidy to export sector
• Govt sensitive to needs of merchandise export sector
.
CORE SECTOR
• To give 129.66 bln rupee to National highway plan FY09
• NHDP outlay upped to 129.66 bln rupees from 108.67 bln
• 96.4% roads completed in Golden Quadrilateral
• NELP-7 to attract $3.5 bln-$8.0 bln investments
• $3.5 bln-$8.0 bln needed for oil exploration blocks
• To introduce more reform in coal, electricity sectors
• Coal regulator to be established
• 300 km roads to be completed FY09 under national plan
• Plans national fund for power transmission, distribution
• 4.5 bln rupees allocated for textile parks FY09
• All 30 integrated textile parks approved
• Integrated textile park scheme to continue in 11th Plan
• 750 mln rupees for common service centres
• 180-km roads completed in FY08, 300 km target FY09
• 250 clusters for handloom being developed
• Provision for integrated textile parks 4.5 bln rupees
• 1.57 mln houses to be built by March
• 4.1 mln houses built until Dec under rural housing plan
• Sop for housing for poor 35,000 rupees/head from Apr
.
INVESTMENT, SAVINGS
• FDI inflow seen at $12.7 bln in FY08
• FII inflow seen at $18 bln in FY08
• Policy is to encourage all investment - local, foreign
• FY08 investment rate estimated 36.3% of GDP
• "Unmistakeable boom of investment" since FY06
• FY08 savings rate estimated 35.8% of GDP
• FY08 savings estimated 35.8% of GDP
.
EDUCATION
• Education allocation up 20%
• India has opportunity to become "knowledge society"
• To set up 2 architecture schools at Bhopal, Vijaywada FY09
• New IIT in Andhra, Bihar, Rajasthan
• New central universities in each of uncovered states
• 16 central universities to be set up in FY09
• 16 new central universities in FY09
• 800 mln rupees for Balika Vidyalaya hostels upgrade
• FY09 allocation for secondary education 45.54 bln rupees
• 1 bln rupees to IT ministry to link knowledge institutes
• Deccan college in Pune to get 50 mln rupees grant
• 850 mln rupees to new scholarship for scientific research
• 454.5 mln rupees for Madrasa education FY09
• 600 mln rupees to up corpus of Maulana Azad Foundation
• 1 bln rupees for IT ministry to set up knowledge bank
• Student reservation to continue for SC, ST, minorities
• Spend on children's schemes FY09 over 330 bln rupees
• 72 bln rupees for ministry for woman, child development
• 162.02 bln rupees allotted for 30% women-specific plans
• 114.60 bln rupees for 100% women specific programme
• To allot 72 bln rupee for ministry of women, children FY09
• 7.5 bln rupees for upgrade of ITIs in FY09
• 440 mln rupees for Sainik School infrastructure
• 1 bln rupees each for DU, University of Mysore
• 1 bln rupees for Mahatma Phule Vidyapeth
.
HEALTH
• Health allocation up 20%
• FY09 allocation for AIDS programme 9.9 bln rupees
• FY09 polio eradication drive allocation 10.42 bln rupees
• Rural health plan budget aid upped to 120.50 bln rupees
• 323 district hospitals taken up for upgrade in FY09
• Trained 462,000 personnel in National Rural Health plan
• 165.34 bln rupees allocation for health sector in FY09
.
MISCELLANEOUS
• 6th pay commission to submit report by Mar 31
• Concerned about rate of attrition in defence services
• Permanent institutional mechanism to study climate change
• Fund worth 6.24 bln rupees in FY09 for Commonwealth Games
• 750 mln rupees to Indian Council of Cultural Relations
• Allocates funds for special tiger protection force
• 500 mln rupees for national tiger conservation project
GROWTH, INFLATION
• India growth story interesting, inspiring
• Manufacturing, services to grow 10.7%, 9.4% respectively
• Confident of 8.8% GDP growth in FY08
• FY08 H1 GDP growth was 9.1%
• FY08 most challenging of last 4 years
• 12 successive quarters of over 8% GDP growth until December
• 8.7% GDP growth seen FY08 as per CSO estimates
• Second year of plan extremely critical
• Farm growth seen 2.6% FY08
• FY09 year of consolidation, implementation, monitoring
• Must be vigilant, swift for growth with price stability
• Keeping inflation in check remains cornerstone of policy
.
DIRECT TAXES
• Banking transaction tax to be withdrawn from April 1 2009
• Commodities transaction tax to be imposed in line with STT
• Short term capital gains tax raised from 10% to 15%
• Tax on income above Rs 5 lakh-30%
• Tax on income between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh-20%
• Tax on income between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh-10%
• Tax on income upto Rs 1.5 lakh-Nil
• Threshold limit for all IT assesses increased from 110,000 to 150,000
• Threshold level for small service providers to be increased
• Service tax on money changers, tour operators
• Excise duty reduced to nil on anti-AIDS drugs
• Excise duty reduced on automobiles (buses, small cars)
• General CENVAT rate reduced
• Customs duty on crude reduced from 5% to 2%
• Customs duty for convergence products (media, telecom) reduced to 5%
• Peak rate of customs duty for project imports reduced
• Peak rate of customs duty for non-agricultural products maintained at 10%
• Agriculture income exempt from income tax
• Demat corp debt instruments exempt from TDS
• Reverse mortgage income won't be considered income for tax
• 10% income tax for 150,000-300,000 rupees income
• Stock, commodity bourses under service tax net
• All income tax payers get minimum relief of 4,000 rupee/yr
• 30% income tax for income above 500,000 rupees
• I-T threshold for women 180,000 rupees vs 145,000 rupees
• No change in corporate income tax, surcharge
• Direct tax proposals revenue neutral
• No change in securities transaction tax
• Short-term capital gains tax 15% vs 10%
• Introduces STT for commodity futures trades
• Dividend distribution tax to be 15%
• Deduction of STT paid allowed
• Can setoff dividend income from arms vs dividend tax
• Exemption limit for small service providers 1 mln rupee/yr
• Services contribute 55% of GDP
• Svc sector to get amortisation benefit
• 5 yr tax holiday for hospitals set up to serve rural areas
• To up short-term capital gains tax to 15% in some cases
• High growth rates helped boost tax revenue collection
• Senior citizen I-T threshold 225,000 rupees vs 195,000
• Production of seeds added to VAT list
• 30% income tax on over 500,000 rupees per year
• FBT exemption to creche facility, guest houses
• 125% weighted deduction for research co on R&D outsourcing
• 5-yr IT holiday for 2, 3, 4-star hotels in some districts
• Chrome ore export duty up at 3,000 rupee/tn vs 2,000 rupee
• To withdraw bank cash transaction tax by Apr 1, 2009
• Goods & services tax to come into effect from Apr 1, 2010
• Central sales tax to be 2% from April vs 3% now
• 15,000 rupees more 80D cut on parents' insurance premium
.
INDIRECT TAXES
• Indirect tax proposals revenue loss 59 bln rupees
• Not surprised with buoyancy in tax revenues
• Excise duty on 2 wheelers, 3-wheelers cut to 12% vs 16%
• Excise on small cars cut to 12% vs 16%
• Customs duty on vitamin food, mineral food cut to 20%
• Customs duty on phosphoric acid 5% vs 7.5%
• Some cuts in customs to protect industry
• On course to exceed budget estimate of indirect taxes
• Customs duty on some bulk drugs cut to 5% vs 10%
• Customs duty on project imports cut to 5% vs 7.5%
• Customs duty steel scrap cut to 0% vs 5%
• No change in peak rate of customs duty
• Customs duty on crude sulphur 2% vs 5%
• Fully exempt rough cut stones from import duty
• Raw material for sports goods exempt from customs duty
• Customs duty on unrefined sulphur cut to 2% vs 5%
• Customs duty exemption for set top boxes in IT hardware
• Customs duty on sports goods cut to 5% vs 7.5%
• To give 34.43 bln rupees to social security scheme FY09
• Customs duty on specialised machinery cut to 5% vs 7.5%
• Customs on steel melting, aluminium melting scrap 0% vs 5%
• Some IT, hardware components exempted from Customs duty
• Excise on hybrid cars cut to 14% vs 25%
• Excise duty on paper cut to 8% vs 12%
• Customs duty on edible oils left unchanged
• General CENVAT rate on all goods cut to 14% from 16%
• Excise duty on pharma goods cut to 8% vs 16%
• FY08 tax to GDP ratio 12.5% vs 9.2% inherited by UPA govt
• Customs duty on rough coral 5% vs 10%
• Customs duty on crude/unrefined sulphur cut to 2% vs 5%
• Customs exempt to continue only for naptha for fertiliser
• Excise duty on water purifiers cut to 8% vs 16%
• Excise cut on all pharmaceutical goods to 8% from 16%
• Excise duty on bus chassis 12% vs 16%
• No excise duty on anti-AIDS drugs
• Excise duty on some paper types cut to 10% vs 12%
• Wireless data card exempt from excise duty
• Excise duty on some writing, printing paper 8% vs 12%
• Excise duty of 1% on polyester filament yarn removed
• Cement Excise: Higher of 14% advolorem or 400 rupees/tn
• Filter, non-filter cigarettes to be taxed at par
• Abolish ad valorem component on unbranded petrol, diesel
• Excise on refrigeration units above 2 tn cut
• Filter, non-filter cigarettes to be taxed at higher rate
• Excise duty on packaged software 12% vs 8%
• Excise duty on bulk cement 400 rupees/tonne
• Excise on packaged software hiked to 12% from 8%
• Excise duty on packaging software upped to 12%
• Money changers, tour operators to come under svc tax net
• Excise duty also exempted on packaged coconut water
• Excise duty exemption for coffee mixes, puffed rice
• Svc tax net to include svc by shr, commodity exchanges
• Excise duty exempted on wireless data cards
• Svc tax net to include asset management svc of ULIPs
• Excise duty on unbranded diesel to be 4.6 rupees/litre
GLOBAL IMPACT
• Capital inflows in excess of economic deficit
• Capital inflows need to be managed more actively
• To take steps on foreign inflows to ensure stable markets
• Downside risks have increased worldwide
• Global markets weak since August, impact on local market not clear
• Govt will monitor foreign fund inflows
• Chidambaram says need to be vigilant on global risks
• Impact of US slowdown on emerging mkts not clear yet
• Outlook for global econ benign early FY08
.
FISCAL
• Govt targets FY09 fiscal deficit at 2.5% of GDP
• Govt targets FY09 fiscal deficit 1.33 trln rupees
• FY09 non-plan expenditure seen 5.70 trln rupees
• FY09 plan expenditure seen 2.43 trln rupees
• One more year needed to remove revenue deficit
• Fiscal deficit not only achieved but also some headroom
• FY09 revenue deficit 551.84 bln rupees, 1% of GDP
• FY09 revenue expenditure projected at 6.58 trln rupees
• Govt targets FY09 fiscal deficit at 3.1% of GDP vs 3.3%
.
SPENDING
• Additional 100 bln rupees plan capital expenditure this yr
• FY09 defence allocation 1.056 trln rupees vs 960 bln
• Defence allocation up by 10%
• Sets aside 5 bln rupee for Arunachal, border develop plan
• 73 bln rupee for Rajiv drinking water plan FY09 vs 65 bln
• 3 bln rupees for desalination plant in Chennai in FY09
• 2 bln rupee initial outlay for drinking water in schools
• Allocation for northeast 164.47 bln rupees vs 143.65 bln
• FY09 ministry of minority allocation at 10 bln rupees
• Nehru Urban Renewal Mission outlay up at 68.66 bln rupee
• 68.66 bln rupees for Jawaharlal Urban plan vs 54.82 bln
• FY09 Integrated Child Development Plan sum 63 bln rupees
• Scheduled Tribe Fin Corp gets 500 mln rupees allocation
• National Agri Insurance Plan to get 6.4 bln rupees FY09
• Food security scheme allocation 48.82 bln rupees
• IT department allocation 16.80 bln rupees vs 15 bln
• 44% of backward regions' grant to UP, Bihar, Orissa
.
LOAN WAIVER
• Farmers' debt worth 500 bln rupees to be waived off
• 40 mln farmers to benefit from loan waiver scheme
• Complete waiver of all loans for marginal, small farmers
• Loan waiver for marginal farmers holding up to 1 ha
• 11 bln rupees for National Horticulture Mission FY09
• Farm loans by bank, RRBs, co-op bks until Mar 07 covered
• Farm loan waiver scheme to be completed Jun 30
• Farmers can get fresh loans after debt reschedule
• Farm loan waiver to cover 600 bln rupees of loans
• Debt waiver scheme implementation to be completed by Jun
• Loan waiver scheme to be completed by June
• Waiver also for farm loans recast by banks since 2005, 2006
• Rescheduled farm loans will also be eligible for waiver
• One-time settlement scheme for "other farmers"
• Farm loan waiver scheme liability 600 bln rupees
• Loans worth 500 bln rupees to be waived under scheme
• 10 mln other farmers to also gain from loan waiver
• 30 mln small, marginal farmers to benefit from waiver
• 30 mln small, medium farmer to gain from loan waiver
.
SOCIAL SECTOR
• India midday meal scheme is world's largest
• 182,000 girls in residential schools under Kasturba plan
• 114 mln children covered by midday meal scheme
• FY09 2nd year of plan should be year of consolidation
• 52 villages per day get phone connections under Bharat Nirman
• 4,113 rural villages computerised everyday.
• 42 villages/day get power connections under Bharat Nirman
• "Can do better" on ensuring more inclusive growth
• Noon meal scheme to be extended to upper primary schools
• Mid-day meal plan to be extended to all blocks in country
• Midday meal scheme extended to all govt schools
• Mid-day meal plan extension to help 25 mln children
• Cleanliness drive allocation upped to 12 bln rupees FY09
• More equity to Commissions for minorities, SC/ST
• SC, ST, minorities to continue getting special attention
• Northeast, especially Arunachal, face "special problem"
• Plan to give potable water to schools in scarcity areas
• FY09 plan for districts with minorities 37.8 bln rupees
• 288 more bank branches by Mar in mainly minority districts
• 2 bln rupees for new potable water plan for schools FY09
• Paramilitary forces to have more SC, ST candidates
• Initial grant for potable water in schools 2 bln rupee
• Potable water in schools cost 15,000-30,000 rupee/system
• Non-profit cooperation fund for national skill development
• Need to set up world class skill development programme
• Smart card based PDS food delivery in Haryana, Chandigarh
• 3 social security schemes for unorganised workers FY09
• National Handicapped Corporation to get 90 mln rupees
.
FARM, RURAL SECTOR
• Food grain adequacy will be a challenge in FY09.
• Farm credit seen 2.4 trln rupees by March end.
• Promises new initiatives for agriculture.
• Cotton output seen at 23.38 mln bales FY08.
• Cotton output estimated 24.38 mln bales.
• Maize output seen at 65.78 mln tn FY08.
• 88% rise in wheat prices, 15% rise in rice prices.
• Soybean output estimated 9.45 mln tn.
• Rice output seen at 94.08 mln tn FY08.
• Maize output estimated 16.7 mln tn.
• FY08 food grains output at record high of 219.32 mln tn.
• Rice output estimated 94 mln tn.
• FY09 farm credit aim 2.8 trln rupees
• Farm credit growth impressive
• Gross capital formation in farm 12.5% of GDP FY07
• Aims to up farm contribution to GDP to 1.6% in 11th plan
• Crucial to manage inflow of food supply
• FY09 agri credit target 2.8 trln rupees
• 16 bln rupee interest subvention for short-term crop loan
• 900,000 ha to be developed under World Bank aid
• Irrigation Resources Finance to have 1 bln rupee capital
• More pacts with World Bank likely for Orissa, W Bengal
• To set up Irrigation, Water Resources Finance Corp
• 548,000 ha brought under irrigation in last 2 years
• To give 2.8 trln rupees of loans to farm sector FY09
• Funds for rain-fed area 3.48 bln rupees FY09
• 24 major, 750 minor irrigation projects in FY09
• Education plan to up retention, upgrade learning quality
• To cover 400,000 ha more in micro, dip irrigation
• Irrigation outlay 200 bln rupees FY09 vs 110 bln yr ago
• IWRFC to be incorporated as company before Mar
• Rubber Fund to get 190 mln rupees FY09
• Coconut, cashew, pepper to get priority for crop revival
• Special purpose Tea Fund to get 400 mln rupees FY09
• 56,000 old plantations revived under horticulture mission
• To stress on revival of coconut, cashew, pepper crops
• To set up 500 soil testing labs as PPP in 11th plan
• 276,000 ha brought under horticulture
• To incorporate new water commission before Mar 31
• Have planned crop insurance scheme for spices next yr
• 180 mln rupees allocation for coffee in FY09
• 50-mln-rupee one-time fund to Trivandrum plantation unit
• 400 bln rupees allocation for special purpose tea fund
• 200 mln rupee grant for Tea Research Association
• 750 mln rupees for farm ministry for mobile soil testing
• Perpetual fund for Rubber, Cardamom, few others FY09
• Have planned crop insurance scheme for spices next year
• Determined to be self-sufficient in foodgrain output
• 200 mln rupees for tea research
• To set up mobile soil testing labs in 230 districts
• 40 bln rupees for rural roads in FY09
• RIDF corpus up 140 bln rupees in FY09
.
NON-FARM COMMODITIES
• Global crude oil prices sharply up.
• Crude oil, iron ore, copper, lead, tin prices elevated.
.
SUBSIDY
• To give 326.67 bln rupees for food subsidy under PDS FY09
• Fertiliser subsidy to continue
• Mulling new structure for fertiliser subsidy scheme
• To continue providing fertilisers at subsidised rate
• National Agri Insurance Plan to get 6.4 bln rupees FY09
• Looking at moving to nutrient-based fertiliser subsidies
.
INDUSTRY
• Policy is to list PSUs to unlock their true value
• Aiming to take manufacturing growth rate to double digits
• Manufacturing industries, apparel, paper growing slower
• Manufacturing sector growing more slowly
• 20% growth in capital goods
• IIP for consumer goods, durables down in FY08
• Govt to list more arms to unlock value
• Some fiscal steps to be taken to boost industrial growth
• 55 bln rupees for Rajiv electrification plan in FY09
• National fund for power transmission, distribution
• Double-digit manufacturing growth in coal, power, steel
• 8 bln rupees for accelerated power reform plan FY09
• Power generation capacity target in 11th plan 78,577MW
• Tilaiya ultra mega power project to be awarded shortly
• Sharp fall in consumer goods growth in Apr-Dec
• Micro, small enterprises to continue to get govt aid
.
FINANCIAL SECTOR
• To extend sr citizens pension plan to all above 65 yrs
• To give 10 bln rupees to LIC for Aam Admi Bima Yojana
• Govt to ask bks to meet credit needs of self-help groups
• Home loans for poor brought under banks' DRI scheme
• LIC to cover 10mln landless farmer in social security plan
• Aam Aadmi Bima Yojna to cover 10 mln households by Sep 30
• 20-bln-rupee SIDBI fund for risk financing
• 50-bln-rupee fund in NABARD to up short-term loans
• To launch exchange traded FX, rate derivative mkt
• To expand market for corporate bonds
• 50 bln rupee NABARD fund for short-term co-ops' lending
• Banks to embrace total financial inclusion concept
• 288 PSU bank branches to be opened in backward areas by Mar
• Will work with RBI for temporary steps to moderate inflow
• 256 new bank branches opened in minority districts
• 75-79% of farm lending has come from rural, small banks
• 75% of farm credit by scheduled commercial banks
• 256 PSU bank branches opened in 2007
• 288 more PSU bank branches to be set up by Mar
• To create risk capital fund in SIDBI
• Micro, small, medium cos continue to be priority
• Fund for TUFS up to 10.9 bln rupees vs 9 bln rupees
• Banks, RRBs to add 250 accounts/yr per rural branch
• "Measured steps" to continue in financial sector reforms
• SIDBI cuts SSIs annual services fees to 0.5% from 0.75%
• Risk capital fund for micro, small, medium cos under SIDBI
• To ask states to help develop national securities mkt
• PAN requirement extended to all financial mkts
• PAN sole identification number in securities market
• There is no seamless national market for securities
• Differences in duties, levies hampering securities mkt
• PSU bks to give DRI scheme home loans at 4% interest rate
.
TRADE
• Rupee up 9.8% from Apr 2007
• Relief to exporters in FY09 to continue as required
• To develop handloom cluster at Varanasi, Shivsagar
• Apr-Dec merchandise export growth 21.8%
• Merchandise exports to fall short of target
• 3.40 bln rupees for weavers insurance scheme in FY09
• Interest spend on MSS is subsidy to export sector
• Govt sensitive to needs of merchandise export sector
.
CORE SECTOR
• To give 129.66 bln rupee to National highway plan FY09
• NHDP outlay upped to 129.66 bln rupees from 108.67 bln
• 96.4% roads completed in Golden Quadrilateral
• NELP-7 to attract $3.5 bln-$8.0 bln investments
• $3.5 bln-$8.0 bln needed for oil exploration blocks
• To introduce more reform in coal, electricity sectors
• Coal regulator to be established
• 300 km roads to be completed FY09 under national plan
• Plans national fund for power transmission, distribution
• 4.5 bln rupees allocated for textile parks FY09
• All 30 integrated textile parks approved
• Integrated textile park scheme to continue in 11th Plan
• 750 mln rupees for common service centres
• 180-km roads completed in FY08, 300 km target FY09
• 250 clusters for handloom being developed
• Provision for integrated textile parks 4.5 bln rupees
• 1.57 mln houses to be built by March
• 4.1 mln houses built until Dec under rural housing plan
• Sop for housing for poor 35,000 rupees/head from Apr
.
INVESTMENT, SAVINGS
• FDI inflow seen at $12.7 bln in FY08
• FII inflow seen at $18 bln in FY08
• Policy is to encourage all investment - local, foreign
• FY08 investment rate estimated 36.3% of GDP
• "Unmistakeable boom of investment" since FY06
• FY08 savings rate estimated 35.8% of GDP
• FY08 savings estimated 35.8% of GDP
.
EDUCATION
• Education allocation up 20%
• India has opportunity to become "knowledge society"
• To set up 2 architecture schools at Bhopal, Vijaywada FY09
• New IIT in Andhra, Bihar, Rajasthan
• New central universities in each of uncovered states
• 16 central universities to be set up in FY09
• 16 new central universities in FY09
• 800 mln rupees for Balika Vidyalaya hostels upgrade
• FY09 allocation for secondary education 45.54 bln rupees
• 1 bln rupees to IT ministry to link knowledge institutes
• Deccan college in Pune to get 50 mln rupees grant
• 850 mln rupees to new scholarship for scientific research
• 454.5 mln rupees for Madrasa education FY09
• 600 mln rupees to up corpus of Maulana Azad Foundation
• 1 bln rupees for IT ministry to set up knowledge bank
• Student reservation to continue for SC, ST, minorities
• Spend on children's schemes FY09 over 330 bln rupees
• 72 bln rupees for ministry for woman, child development
• 162.02 bln rupees allotted for 30% women-specific plans
• 114.60 bln rupees for 100% women specific programme
• To allot 72 bln rupee for ministry of women, children FY09
• 7.5 bln rupees for upgrade of ITIs in FY09
• 440 mln rupees for Sainik School infrastructure
• 1 bln rupees each for DU, University of Mysore
• 1 bln rupees for Mahatma Phule Vidyapeth
.
HEALTH
• Health allocation up 20%
• FY09 allocation for AIDS programme 9.9 bln rupees
• FY09 polio eradication drive allocation 10.42 bln rupees
• Rural health plan budget aid upped to 120.50 bln rupees
• 323 district hospitals taken up for upgrade in FY09
• Trained 462,000 personnel in National Rural Health plan
• 165.34 bln rupees allocation for health sector in FY09
.
MISCELLANEOUS
• 6th pay commission to submit report by Mar 31
• Concerned about rate of attrition in defence services
• Permanent institutional mechanism to study climate change
• Fund worth 6.24 bln rupees in FY09 for Commonwealth Games
• 750 mln rupees to Indian Council of Cultural Relations
• Allocates funds for special tiger protection force
• 500 mln rupees for national tiger conservation project
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
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