Union Budget 2009 - Highlights

Sensex down 717 points as Pranab ends speech

Indirect taxes changes to yield 20 bln rupees in 2009/10

Anonymous funds to charitable bodies to get some tax relief

Small businesses exempt from advance tax

Rs 500 cr for rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils

Drugs for heart diseases to become cheaper

Service tax on legal services imposed

Tax proposals on direct taxes are revenue-neutral

No new taxes on edible oil

No service tax on Consultancy provided by CA and CS

Excise duty on branded jewellery reduced

8% excise duty on manmade fibres

Custom duty on Bio-diesel reduced

4% Excise duty on cotton textiles restored

Custom duty on gold bars raised

Mobile phones to be costlier

LCD, Footwear, set-top boxes to be cheaper

Tax holiday extended for production of natural gas

Custom duty on set-top boxes at 5%

One central university in each uncovered state

Political funding to get 100% tax deduction

Tax holiday for exporters extended to 2011

Personal tax exemptions up to 1.6 lakh

National Pension Scheme exempted from STT

MAT tax credit extended from 7 to 10 years

Minimum alternate tax increased to 15% of book profits

Commodity Transaction Tax abolished

10% surcharge on personal tax removed

Fringe benefit tax scrapped

IT exemption for women up by Rs.10,000

IT exemption for senior citizens up by Rs.15,000

No change in corporate tax

New Direct Tax Code in 45 days

Share of direct taxes increased to 56%

To introduce GST by April 1, 2010

Centralised tax processing centre at Bangalore

Tax distortions to be eliminated

Plan expenditure raised by 34%

Govt to spend Rs. 1.42lakh cr for Defence

Total expenditure crosses Rs. 10 lakh cr

missions being launched under Plan on climate change

Missions being launched under Plan on climate change

46 lakh BPL families under rural insurance plan

Rs.50cr allocation for Punjab University

Hike in allocation for minority ministry

Interest subsidy for home loans upto Rs. 1 lakh

Rs. 2113 cr for IITs, NITs

More IITs on cards

Hike in allocation for Commonwealth Games

Pension of non-commissioned officers hiked

One rank one pension for ex-servicemen

Sensex nosedives 220 points

Biometric smart cards in 12 to 18 months

Employment exchanges to be modernised

Female literacy to be doubled in three years

Rs. 350cr allocation for BPL families

National literacy mission for women to be launched

Full interest subsidy for education loans

Govt to move food security bill soon

Indira Awaaz Yojana outlay raised by 63%

Food security to provide rice and wheat at Rs. 3 per Kg for poor

Banks , Insurance companies outside divestment plan

NREGA allocation up at Rs. 39, 100cr in 09

PSUs to remain under Govt control

To hike public ownership of all listed companies

One banking centre in every block in next three years

Fertiliser subsidy to reach farmers directly

Stimulus package to print media extended to Dec 31

Expert committee on petroleum products to be set up

More funds SIDBI for SMEs

Work on Saral II form to be taken

Farmer loan waiver period extended by 6 months

Allocation for schemes for the urban poor to be raised to Rs.39,730 crore in 2009-10

Local production of natural gas to double

Interest subvention to exporters extended to March 2010

75% hike for accelerated irrigation

Agricultural credit target: Rs. 3.25 lakh cr

Allocation to Railways up from Rs. 10,800 cr to Rs. 15,800cr

Additional Budget allocation to farmers

Hike in allocation for Mumbai flood management

Blueprint for national gas grid

Housing allocation hiked under Rajiv Awaaz Yojana

87% hike to urban renewal mission

NHAI allocation up by 23%

Government successful in attracting private investment

IIFCL to be given greater flexibility.

Increase investments in infrastructure to 9% of GDP by 2010

Signs of revival in domestic industry

Achieved growth of 6.7%

Move towards energy security via Integrated Energy Act

Foreign capital inflow must increase

Focus to sustain momentum in exports

Lead economy to 9%

' One Budget cannot solve all issues'

To ensure agricultural growth @ 4%

Strengthen primary healthcare delivery

Strong mandate for growth

'We will do all we can for the welfare of nation'

Pranab Mukherjee begins Budget speech

Sensex off to a bright start @ 10:31 hrs

Pranab Mukherjee arrives at Parliament