India

A large number of commonly used items, including refrigerators, air conditioners, LED lights and mobile phones, will become more expensive due to hike in customs duty on imported parts, as proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget for 2021-22. However, gold and silver will become cheaper as a result of rationalisation in customs duty on imports of these precious metals

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the Union Budget, saying it has the vision of 'Aatmanirbharta' (self reliance) and addresses all sections of the society, while keeping farmers and villages at its heart. "This Budget has a special focus on strengthening the agriculture sector and boosting farmers' income. Villages and farmers are at its heart," Modi said. The budget will

New Delhi, Feb 1: The TMC lashed out at the Centre over the Union Budget on Monday, saying it was 100 per cent "visionless" and its theme was "sell India." The remarks came after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman read out the Union Budget speech in the Lok Sabha. "India's first paperless budget is also a 100% visionless budget. Theme of the fake budget is Sell India!" TMC spokesperson Derek O

New Delhi, Feb 1: Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman brought cheer to Indian entrepreneurs with a bold move to permit one-person companies. In a major boost for Indian expats (NRI) investments in India, there is no restriction on paid up capital and turnover to incentivise incorporation of one-person companies in their home country. Bal Krishen, chairman of Century Financial, said: “The

New Delhi, Feb 1: Criticizing the Union Budget 2021-22, Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said that the budget is disappointing as it lacks a roadmap for accelerating growth and revival of consumer demand. He further stated that the Finance Minister could have been brave to help the poor but she chose to be timid and continued with the government's rhetoric. "Extraordinary crisis called for a

New Delhi, Feb 1: Stressed that the government is committed to farmers' welfare, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the MSP regime has undergone a "sea change" to assure price at least 1.5 times of production cost with sharp increase in procurement of foodgrains and payment to farmers. In her budget speech for the next fiscal, she said the procurement of crops like paddy, wheat

New Delhi, Feb 1: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made a provision of Rs 15,700 crore for the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in the Union Budget 2021-22. "We have taken a number of steps to support the MSME sector in this budget. I have provided Rs 15,700 crore more than double the previous year," said Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget in the

New Delhi, Feb 1: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced that the central government is allocating Rs 1,10,055 crores for Railways. She also announced an outlay for capital expenditure amounting to Rs 1,07,100 crores. Presenting the Union Budget 2021-22, Sitharaman said that the plan of the government is to create a future-ready Railways system by 2030. "Indian Railways has

New Delhi, Feb 1: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced a voluntary vehicle scrapping policy to phase out old and unfit vehicles under which the personal vehicles will undergo a fitness test in automated centres after 20 years while the commercial vehicles will undergo the test after 15 years. "We are separately announcing a voluntary vehicle scrapping policy to phase out

New Delhi, Feb 1: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman on Monday informed that the budget outlay for health increased to Rs 2,23,846 crores in 2021-22, an increase of 137 per cent in comparison to the previous year's budget. She also said the central government has provided Rs 35,000 crores for the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021-22. "I have provided Rs 35,000 crores for COVID-19 vaccine in this year 2021