Rural economy to be 2017-18 Budget's highlight

Focus on fixing gaps in existing schemes rather than launching new ones

The Union Budget for 2017-18, the fourth by the Narendra Modi government, is expected to broadly continue the pro-poor and pro-farmer credentials laid down in the previous Budgets with enhanced allocations for marquee schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), and Krishi Vikas Yojana (KVY). 

The focus is likely to be on consolidation and improvement of existing programmes to ensure their completion ahead of the next general elections in 2019, rather than announcement of new schemes, Business Standard has learnt from multiple sources in the government. 

According to officials