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Union Budget 2008-09  »   Story
The campaign begins
Shalini S. Dagar
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It's hard to tell—it depends on the timing of the general elections. But the more important question is, does Budget 2008 have—as Chidambaram claims—enough to spur, or even sustain, India's moderating growth and thus deliver the inclusiveness that this country needs?

On a splurge

Election In Sight

Targeting the traditional Congress votebank

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in 20 districts that have a large concentration of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with a corpus of Rs 130 crore

Provision of Rs 80 crore to set up new or upgrade existing hostels attached to the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas

Grant of Rs 5 crore to the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune

Rs 85 crore for scholarships in science and research and development under Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE).

Rs 75 crore for National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation

Rs 106.5 crore for three National Finance and Development Corporations for Weaker Sections comprising Safai Karamcharis, Scheduled Castes, and Backward Classes

Rs 50 crore for National/State Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporations

Rs 9 crore for National Handicapped Development Corporation

The initial, terse comment from Sunil Mittal, Chairman and Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises and CII President, took cue from the Finance Minister's comment a day before the Budget: "Optimism with caution is the watchword for this year's Budget."

Optimistic one would imagine because India has now become used to annual economic growth topping 9 per cent, cautious because the same buoyant growth often begets profligacy.

If the last few years have seen the tax revenues grow from strength to strength then it has also encouraged pouring more funds down leaky pipes of social sector schemes which have indeterminate results.

However, all this was along expected lines and hence most of corporate India has been happy with the limited damage inflicted by the election-oriented Budget.

Hence, Mittal followed up with, "While I am delighted for the millions of farmers who get to enjoy the waiver, I am worried that this may be considered as a trendsetter and companies giving out such short-term loans in the future might get worried. Overall, it's a positive Budget."

Vallabh Bhansali, Chairman, Enam Financial Consultants, sums up the palpable relief in corporate boardrooms: "Under the circumstances, it is a responsible Budget."

If corporate sector has been circumspect in its assessment of the long-term vision detailed in the Budget statement, then the government allies are under no compulsion to do so. Says CPI leader D. Raja: "The Budget lacks long-term perspective and gave the indication that the direction in which economic reforms were going could be dangerous. It is more of short-term relief."

Neither does the present opposition. Says BJP leader, and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha: "He has not provided any growth impulses for the economy. Where will the growth come from when the interest rates continue to be high? It will have a dampening effect on the overall growth as well as individuals. Then, there is nothing big in terms of infrastructure, project or industry, so investment demand will slow down and this will lead to a further slow down in the economy."

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Sector Analysis
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Railway Budget
Lalu presents people's budget, slashes fares
The minister announced launch of several new trains and reduction in fares across all classes amid chaos by Opposition in Parliament.
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A budget for Bharat
Buoyant tax revenues a lower fiscal deficit and an economy that's in top gear permit the FM to pump big money into agriculture and the social sector. Those efforts might help at the hustings, too.
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Economic Survey
'Expand telecom infrastructure, R&D'
"With rapid growth of telecom network, there is a need to further expand the infrastructure and research and development," the survey said.
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Surfers' comments
This is a very good budget, especially for agriculture and education. P Chidambaram is the best.
- By Saravanan P (plsharavanan@rediffmail.com)
If you can waive Rs 50,000 crore for farmers what about the tax on housing loan interest? That should also have been reduced.
- Chandra Shekar V (rilshekar@yahoo.co.in)
Please tax the street hawkers and give relief to the salaried persons.
- Rajaram (rajaramghurup@rediffmail.com)
This is the worst budget the finance minister has ever presented. The backbone of the country's economy is the transport but he completely missed it out.
- Jayakaanthan A (jayakaanthan@gmail.com)
The budget is sure to augment growth and will also lessen the volatility of the stock markets.
- Sidharth Paul (sidharth.paul@gmail.com)
Overall, the budget is satisfactory but the health sector should have been given greater importance.
- Ankit Chaudhary (chaudharyankit1987@gmail.com)
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Business Today's Budget edition
Editorial: Predictably populist budget
Special: Something for everyone...
Column: All for the common man
Exclusive interview with the FM
Maintaining the growth story
The Finance Minister defends Budget 2008 and the Rs 60,000 crore loan waiver doled out to farmers in an exclusive interview to Business Today's Sanjoy Narayan and R Sridharan.
VOX CEOs
"Total reduction of excise duties by 2% will give a welcome boost to the manufacturing sector. Also, the exemption of specified parts of set-top boxes from customs duties is commendable".
- Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises
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Beginner’s guide to budget
Union Budget is an estimate of the Government of India's revenue and expenditure for the end of a particular fiscal year, which usually runs from April 1 to March 31. Read on...
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