MUMBAI (Reuters) - India must make tough spending choices, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said on Thursday, even as he unveiled a bigger-than-expected outlay for the coming fiscal year in one of the most highly anticipated Indian budgets of recent years.
Shares fell, erasing earlier gains, after the 2012/13 budget proposed higher taxes on some corporates and individuals, while the securities transaction tax was lowered but not eliminated.
Reuters India special budget page online https://bsmedia.business-standard.comin.reuters.com/subjects/india-budget-2013
For Budget highlights click http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/02/28/india-union-budget-2013-chidambaram-idINDEE91R03C20130228
COMMENTARY
S. SANDILYA, PRESIDENT, SOCIETY OF INDIAN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS AND CHAIRMAN OF EICHER MOTORS, NEW DELHI
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"Overall tax rates not having gone up ... is very good.
"However, on the SUVs, he increased excise duty, saying they occupy more parking spaces, which is totally surprising. We need to find out how it affects the overall sales. It was one area where growth was significant and yes, this will have an impact.
"Also on imported vehicles, he increased the customs duty which was not expected."
MALVINDER MOHAN SINGH, CHAIRMAN, DION GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, NEW DELHI
"It's a good budget ... portrays an optimistic picture. I hope the higher taxes on corporates is only for a year."
(Reporting by India Company News team; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)