The budget, which includes the impact of UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojna) scheme, projected a fiscal deficit of Rs 43,147 crore, or 5.62 per cent of GSDP.
In her budget speech, Raje announced VAT exemptions for solar torches, biomass stoves, kerosene lamps, hurricane lanterns, kerosene wick stoves, kerosene pressure stoves, sugarcane, sattu, marble articles costing up to Rs 1,000, sewing needles, safety matches and camphor, among others.
Items made by prisoners in jails were also exempted from VAT, while it was reduced from 5.5 per cent to 2 per cent on all types of yarn.
To earn additional financial resources, Raje, who holds the finance portfolio, increased VAT on aerated water from 15 to 20 per cent.
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She also imposed VAT of 5.5 per cent on semi-stitched garments, 5.5 per cent on guar gum and guar gum powder, 15 per cent increase on all types of cigarettes, increase of 2 per cent in luxury tax on all hotels, except heritage hotels of basic and classic categories having a tariff of more than Rs 10,000.
(REOPENS NRG 15)
Raje said the present year was challenging due to
financial mismanagement of power companies by the previous government.
In her budget proposals, Raje announced 2,000 kms of 'Gramin Gaurav Path', 4,303 km road construction under PMGSY at a cost of Rs 1,618 crore to connect 1,468 habitations with population between 250-350, completion of 2,702 km of renewal of non-patchable roads at cost of Rs 605 crore.
For drinking water, she announced allocation of Rs 2,950 crore for major works.
She also announced the second phase of the Bisalpur-Jaipur Water Scheme and earmarked Rs 1,945 crore for the project.
Other proposals included a hike of 79 per cent in allocation for development of tourist areas, Rs 17.88 crore for development of airstrips, Rs 22.60 crore for developmental works in Amber, Nahargarh, Jantar Mantar and Albert Hall, 100 per cent subsidy for new cooking gas connection for residents around Sariska, Ranthambhor and Mukundra tiger reserves, and special scheme for organic farming in eleven districts, among others.
Digital training of 10,400 minority students and e-learning for madarsa shiksha sahyogis were among the other measures announced in the budget.
"It is a reform-oriented and all-round budget. We have tried to take care of all the sectors. I held pre-budget meetings with stakeholders in industry and others sectors and focused on growth in rural areas, youth, women and others," she said.
Raje added that the budget also focuses on digitisation.
"If we have to keep pace with the modern era, we have to have digitally organised people. There is stiff competition among states...States which fail to compete and take such decisions will be left out," she said.