Page 16 - Budget

FM takes part in 'halwa' ceremony; marks final stage of interim Budget prep

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday participated in a traditional 'halwa' ceremony, marking the final stage for preparation of the Interim Budget 2024 to be unveiled on February 1 in the Lok Sabha. The ceremony is an annual ritual in which the traditional dessert 'halwa' is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the finance ministry who are involved in the preparation of the Budget. It is organised every year in the basement of North Block, which houses the ministry in the national capital and is attended by the finance minister and other high-ranking officials. A customary Halwa ceremony is performed every year before the 'lock-in' process of Budget preparation begins, an official statement said. As part of the ceremony, the finance minister also took a round of the Budget Press and reviewed the preparations besides extending her best wishes to the officials concerned. Like the previous three full Union Budgets, Interim Union Budget 2024 will also be .

Govt may increase agri-credit target to Rs 22-25 trn in interim Budget

The government is likely to announce in the upcoming interim Budget a substantial increase in the agricultural credit target to Rs 22-25 lakh crore for the next fiscal and ensure every eligible farmer has access to institutional credit, according to sources. The government's agri-credit target is Rs 20 lakh crore for the current fiscal. Currently, the government provides interest subvention of two per cent on short term agri-loans of up to Rs 3 lakh for all financial institutions. This means farmers are getting a farm loan of up to Rs 3 lakh at a concessional rate of 7 per cent per annum. An additional interest subvention of 3 per cent per annum is also being provided to farmers who repay on time. Farmers can also avail long term loans but interest rate is as per the market rate. For the 2024-25 fiscal, there could be a sharp increase in the agri-credit target to Rs 22-25 lakh crore, sources said. According to the sources, there is more focus on agri-credit and the government is .

Increase import duty on paper, paperboards to 25% in Budget: Industry body

Domestic paper and paperboard manufacturers have demanded a hike in import duty to 25 per cent on paper products and the imposition of a quality control order in the upcoming Budget to discourage cheap inward shipments. The Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA), in a statement on Monday, said that in its pre-budget submissions to the government, it has urged for increasing the basic customs duty on the import of paper and paperboard from 10 per cent to 25 per cent as India's WTO Bound rate is 40 per cent on these products. The association has also asked for the issuance of quality control orders (QCOs) for different grades of paper to ensure the supply of quality products to Indian consumers and check the import of sub-standard products into the country. IPMA President Pawan Agarwal urged the government to keep paper and paperboard on the negative list while reviewing the existing FTAs (ASEAN, South Korea and Japan) and formulating new ones. He mentioned that any increase i

Budget 2024: Centre may increase FY25 capex target for CPSEs by 12-13%

The government aims to propel economic growth with a higher capital expenditure target for central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) in the upcoming financial year

Interim Budget 2024-25: Govt may target 5.3% fiscal deficit for FY25

Of the 10 research reports by forecasting agencies that Business Standard analysed, eight expect a fiscal deficit at 5.3 per cent of the GDP for FY25, while two agencies have pegged it at 5.4 per cent

Budget 2024-25: Govt may increase capex to propel economic growth

With private investment still muted, the government is likely to maintain its momentum on increasing capital expenditure, especially for the infrastructure sector in the upcoming Budget to propel economic growth. Post COVID-19, the Budget has been laying special emphasis on capex. It has kick-started a dormant cycle for the economy. As a result India has witnessed over 7 per cent growth in the last three years, the highest among the large economies of the world. During the current financial year, the government has made a record high provision of Rs 10 lakh crore towards capex. During 2020-21, the government earmarked Rs 4.39 lakh crore which increased by 35 per cent to Rs 5.54 lakh crore in the subsequent year. Another 35 per cent hike in capex was done in 2022-23 to Rs 7.5 lakh crore which subsequently reached a high of Rs 10 lakh crore, an increase of 37.4 per cent. In the upcoming Budget too, the government is expected to earmark a large amount towards capex as such investment

Budget 2024-25: Telecom industry wants govt to junk USOF, slash duties

A clearer definition of gross revenue, GST exemption also sought

Budget 2024: Who was first woman to present Budget? Know interesting facts

Interim Budget 2024: Who holds the record for reading the most number of budgets in India and other interesting Budget facts

Budget 2024: Govt may hike housing subsidy ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Interim Budget 2024: The govt estimates reveal a significant housing shortage of over 20 mn homes in rural areas. While the same for urban areas stands at 1.5 mn homes, according to industry experts

Bond index inclusion soon: Govt may opt for longer-term G-secs in FY25

However, the tenure of securities is not announced in the Budget and communicated to the market during the release of the half-yearly borrowing calendar in March and September

Budget 2024: Govt may raise exemption in lower bracket under old I-T regime

The measures, along with announcements to improve the direct tax system, are those which the government feels will not hurt the fiscal deficit numbers now

Budget 2024-25: Insurers hope for tax reliefs, provisions for uncertainties

Insurers have suggested introduction of a separate tax deduction limit for life insurance, waiver of taxation on annuity and pension products

Interim Budget 2024-25: OilMin bats for retaining energy transition fund

Rs 30,000 cr was announced in last year's Budget but never disbursed

Israel cabinet set to vote on 2024 wartime budget, higher deficit

Israel last year approved a two-year budget for 2023 and 2024, but the war against Hamas in Gaza has shaken government finances, requiring budget changes and additional spending

IIP growth at 8-month low in November, retail inflation rises in December

Retail inflation in December, on the other hand, rose to a four-month high because of a seasonal spike in the prices of vegetables, fruits, and pulses that the Reserve Bank of India has already factor

Fiscal deficit at 5.2-5.4% in interim Budget 2024-25: Goldman Sachs

While income taxes and corporate taxes are expected to grow at around 15 per cent in FY25, the government is likely to lower its target for disinvestment in the next fiscal year

Centre may peg FY25 fiscal deficit at 5.3% in interim budget: Goldman Sachs

Interim Budget 2024: The Centre will keep a focus on increasing the capital expenditure but it will most likely be at a slower pace than earlier, says Goldman Sachs

Parliament session from January 31, FM to present Interim Budget on Feb 1

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the Interim Budget session will commence with President Droupadi Murmu addressing both Houses of Parliament

Interim Budget likely to assume peak crude oil price at $85 per barrel

Brent crude prices moved up on Thursday, ending at $78.9 per barrel

Budget 2024 wishlist: Gaming industry seeks clarity on regulation, taxation

Firms expect Budget to address concerns on consumer/player protection, without stifling innovation