BUDGET

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

Recommendations of Committee on one rank one pension for ex-servicemen accepted ENHANCED PENSION FOR OVER 12 LAKH JAWANS AND JCOs

General Budget 2009-10

Based on the recommendation of the Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary on One Rank One Pension (OROP), the Government has decided to substantially improve the pension of pre 01.01.2006 Defence pensioners below officer rank and bring pre 10.10.1997 pensioners on par with post 10.10.1997 pensioners. This was announced by the Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the Budget proposals for the year 2009-10 in Lok Sabha today.

The Finance Minister further informed that these decisions will be implemented from 1st July, 2009 and will cost the exchequer more than Rs. 2100 crore annually. These measures will benefit more than 12 lakh Jawans and JCOs. Certain pension benefits being extended to war wounded and other disabled pensioners are also being liberalized, he added.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

Additional amount of Rs. 430 crore to modernise police machinery in states ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF RS. 2,284 CRORE FOR STRENGTHEING BORDER MANAGEMENT

General Budget 2009-10

For modernization of police force in the States, the Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has proposed an additional amount of Rs. 430 crore over and above the provision in the Interim Budget. While presenting the Budget proposals for the year 2009-10 in Lok Sabha today, Shri Mukherjee stated that the Government has also sanctioned special risk/hardship allowances to the personnel of Para Military Forces at par with Defence Forces. Provisions for payment of these allowances are also being proposed in the Budget, the Finance Minister added.

For strengthening Border Management, the Finance Minister proposed an additional amount of Rs. 2,284 crore over and above the provision in the Interim Budget for construction of fences, roads, flood-lights on the international borders.

Keeping in view, the significant augmentation in the strength of Para Military Forces, Shri Mukherjee called for more investment in creating the necessary infrastructure, particularly in the area of housing. He said, the Government proposed to launch a massive programme of housing to create one lakh dwelling units for Central Para Military Forces Personnel. This will not only enhance the morale of the forces, but will also enable leveraging of Government’s annual budgetary resources and create an innovative financing model, the Finance Minister added.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

Allocation of Rs. 120 crore to UIDAI FIRST SET OF UNIQUE IDENTITY NUMBER TO BE ROLLED OUT IN 12 TO 18 MONTHS

General Budget 2009-10

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) set up recently by the Government, will establish an online data base with identity and biometric details of Indian residence and provide enrolment and verification services across the country. This was stated by the Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, while presenting the budget proposals for the year 2009-10 in Lok Sabha today.

The first set of unique identity numbers will be rolled out in 12 to 18 months. A provision of Rs. 120 crore has been proposed for this project. Shri Mukherjee stated that the setting up of the UIDAI is a major step in improving governance with regard to delivery of public services. Expressing happiness, the Finance Minister said that this project also marks the beginning of an era where top private sector talent in India steps forward to take the responsibility for implementing the projects of vital national importance.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

Increased allocations for infrastructure development

General Budget-2009-10

The Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in his budget speech today has announced higher allocations in a number of infrastructure sector.

23% increase for Highways: The allocation during the current year to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) has been stepped up by 23 per cent over the 2008-09 (BE).

Rs.5,000 crore increase for Railways: The allocation for railways has been increased from Rs.10,800 crore made in the Interim Budget 2009-10 to Rs.15,800 crore.

87% increase for JNNURM for Urban Infrastructure: In recognition of the role of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), which has been an important instrument for refocusing the attention of the State Governments on importance of urban infrastructure, the allocation for this scheme has been stepped up by 87% to Rs.12,887 crore in the current budget. To improve the lot of the urban poor, the allocation for housing and provision of basic amenities to the urban poor has been enhanced to Rs.3973 crore in current year’s budget. This includes the provision for Rajiv Awaas Yojana (RAY), the scheme announced in the address of the President of India.

160% increase in APDRP for Power: The allocation for the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programmes (APDRP) has been increased to Rs.2080 crore, a steep increase of 160% above the allocation in the BE of 2008-09.

Rs. 300 crore more for Mumbai Storm Water Drainage Project: To expedite the completion of the Brihan Mumbai Storm Water Drainage Project (BRIMSTOWA), theprovisions for this project has been enhanced for Rs.200 crores in the Interim Budget 2009-10 to Rs.500 crore. The estimated project cost of BRIMSTOWA, which was initiated in 2007 to address the problem of flooding in Mumbai, is Rs.1200 crore and is being funded through Central assistance. A sum of Rs.500 crore has been released for this project upto 2008-09.

Increased outlay for Assam Gas Cracker Project: The Assam Gas Cracker Project sanctioned in April 2006 is being executed at a cost of Rs.5,461 crore. The capital subsidy of Rs.2,138 crore for the project is to be provided by the Central Government. The outlay for this project is being stepped up suitably.

National Gas Grid: The government proposes to develop a blueprint for long distance gas highways leading to a National Gas Grid. This would facilitate transportation of gas across the length and breadth of the country. With the recent find of natural gas in the KG Basin on the Eastern offshore of the country, the indigenous production of Natural Gas is set to double with natural gas emerging as an important source of energy.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

More Stress on Rural Roads in Budget 2009-10

General Budget-2009-10

The total budgetary support for rural roads in 2009-10 Rs.12000 crore out of which a provision of Rs.1067 crore have been earmarked for North-Eastern Region and Sikkim. This is an increase of 59 per cent over BE 2008-09. The Budget was presented in Lok Sabha by Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today.

Rural Roads have been identified as one of the six components of Bharat Nirman with the goal to provide connectivity to all villages with a population of 1000 (500 in the case of hilly or tribal areas) with an all-weather road by 2009. To achieve the targets of Bharat Nirman, 1,46,185 kms of road length is proposed to be constructed by 2009. This will benefit 59,564 unconnected eligible habitations in the country. To ensure full farm to market connectivity, it is also proposed to upgrade 1,94,132 kms of the existing Associated Through Routes. A sum of approximately Rs.48,000 crore is proposed to be invested to achieve this.

In order to provide support to rural roads under PMGSY, two Externally Aided Projects namely, Rural Roads Sector Project I and II and Rural Roads Projects I and II are being implemented in various States with the assistance provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank respectively. In addition, an allocation of Rs.6500 crore has been made as loan for PMGSY through the RIDF window of NABARD as IEBR for the year.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

Budgetary support stepped up for Road Transport and Highways

General Budget-2009-10

To accelerate the process of economic development and remove inter-regional disparities, there has been a stress in today’s budget for the development and proper maintenance of the road network. The Budget was presented in Lok Sabha by Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today.

This is indicated by the stepping up of budgetary support to give a thrust to investment in this crucial infrastructure sector. The expenditure provision from the Central Road Fund for the year 2009-10 are as below:

(i) Grants to States Rs.1988.55 crores

(ii) Grants to States for Inter-State Rs.213.97 crores

and Economical Important Roads

(iii) Grants to UT Governments Rs.81.51 crores

(iv) Grants to UTs for Inter-State Rs.16.03 crores

and Economical Important Roads

(v) Investment in NHAI Rs.8578.45 crores

(vi) Railways Rs.958.36 crores

(vii) Rural roads Rs.4843.13 crores

Total Rs.16680.00 crores

Provision for Capital Outlay for National Highways other than Investment in National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) isRs.4140.55 crore and for the work executed by Border Road Development Board (BRDB) provision is Rs.550 crore (excluding NER component).

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

Rs.190 Crore budgetary support for Civil Aviation BUDGETARY SUPPORT FOR AAI FOR DEVELOPMENTS OF AIRPORTS

General Budget-2009-10

Out of the total Plan Outlay of Rs.12164.76 crore for the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rs.190 crore is the budgetary support, of which the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been provided with Rs.99.15 crore for development of airports.

Of the total budgetary support for AAI, Rs.20 crore has been earmarked for the development of airports in the North-Eastern states and the balanced amount of Rs.79.15 crore is for development of airports in other crucial areas like Jammu, Srinagar, Aggtti, Puducherry airport etc.

Budgetary support of Rs.50 crore has been provided to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and a provision of Rs.14 crore for the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to pursue their plan schemes.

A provision of Rs.10 crore has been made for Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. (PHHL) for heliport in NCR/Delhi in order to facilitate Common Wealth Games and also to provide for Disaster Management/Mitigation measure.

The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uraan Akademi and Aeroclub of India have been provided grants-in-aid of Rs.8 crores and Rs.5 crores respectively.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

‘Takeout financing’ scheme to be evolved by IIFCL IIFCL TO REFINANCE 60% OF COMMERCIAL BANK LOANS FOR PPP PROJECTS

General Budget-2009-10

The India infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) will evolve a ‘takeout financing’ scheme in consultation with banks to facilitate incremental landing to infrastructure sector. This was announced today by the Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the General Budget 2009-10.

‘Takeout financing’, an accepted international practice of releasing long term funds for financing infrastructure projects, can be used effectively to address the asset liability mismatch of commercial banks arising out of financing infrastructure projects. It can also be used effectively to free up capital for financing new projects.

The Finance Minister has also announced the Government’s decision that IIFCL will refinance 60 per cent of commercial bank loans for PPP projects in critical sectors over the next 15 to 18 months. This is to ensure that infrastructure projects in sectors such as telecommunication, power generation, airports, ports, roads and railways, do not face financing difficulties arising from the current downturn. The Minister stated that the IIFCL and Banks are now in a position to support projects involving a total investment of Rs.100,000 crores in infrastructure. Combined with the steps taken by the government to increase public investment in infrastructure, this step is expected to provide a big boost to such investment.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

National Action Plan on Climate Change: funds to be allocated for the eight National Missions

Budget 2009-10

Necessary funds are proposed to be allocated for the eight National Misssions that are being launched following the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) unveiled last year. This was announced by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister for Finance while presenting the Budget in Parliament today. The NAPCC outlines our strategy to adapt to Climate Change and enhance the ecological sustainability of our developmental path, he added.

Shri Mukherjee stated that the Government proposes increasing the Budgetary outlay for the National River and Lake Conservation Plans to Rs.562 crore in 2009-10 from Rs.335 crore in 2008-09. The Government has already set up a National Ganga River Basin Authority, he added.

The Finance Minister announced a special one-time grant of Rs.100 crore to the Indian Council of Forestary Research and Education, Dehradun in recognition of its excellence in the field of research, education and extension. He also proposed an allocation of Rs.15 crore each for the Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India and Geological Survey of India.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

One handloom mega cluster each for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, one Powerloom mega cluster for Rajasthan announced

Budget 2009-10

The Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, while presenting the Union Budget in Parliament today announced that it is proposed to add one handloom mega cluster each in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and one powerloom mega cluster in Rajasthan. He said that this would help preserve the magnificent textile tradition in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and generate thousands of jobs in Rajasthan. He said that, in addition, he proposes to add new mega clusters for carpets in Srinagar (J&K) and Mirzapur (U.P.). Shri Mukherjee also gave the instance of the two handloom mega clusters at Varanasi and Sibsagar and the two mega powerloom clusters at Erode and Bhiwandi approved in the last Budget that are under successful implementation.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

New Project to enable job seekers to register on-line from anywhere to be launched

Budget 2009-10

A new project for the modernization of the Employment Exchanges is to be launched in Public Private Partnership. Announcing this while presenting the Union Budget in Parliament today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that this would enable a job seeker to register on-line from anywhere and approach any Employment Exchange.

Shri Mukherjee said that under the project a national web portal with common software will be developed. This will contain all the data regarding availability of skilled persons on the one hand and requirements of skilled persons by the industry on the other. It will help the youth get placed and enable industry to procure required skills on real time basis, he added.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

Plan Outlay for Ministry of Minority Affairs increased by 74 per cent RS 25 CRORE EACH ALLOCATED FOR AMU CAMPUSES IN MURSHIDABAD AND MALAPPURAM

Budget 2009-10

The Plan Outlay of the Ministry of Minority Affairs has been enhanced from Rs. 1,000 crore in BE 2008-09 to Rs.1,740 crore in 2009-10,registering an increase of 74 per cent. Announcing this while presenting the Union Budge in Parliament today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukheree said that this includes Rs.990 crore for Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities in selected minority concentration districts, Grants-in-aid to Maulana Azad Education Foundation which is almost doubled, and provisions for National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation and Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for Minorities. Allocations have also been made for the new schemes of National Fellowship for Students from the Minority community and Grants-in-aid to Central Wakf council for computerization of records of State Wakf Boards.

Shri Mukherjee announced that a sum of Rs 25 crore each has been allocated for the two campuses that the Aligarh Muslim University has decided to establish at Murshidabad \in West Bengal and Malappuram in Kerala.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

ICDS to be extended to every child under six by March 2012 FULL INTEREST SUBSIDY FOR STUDENT LOANS OF WEAKER SECTIONS

Budget 2009-10

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the Budget in Parliament today has announced that the Governemnt is committed to the universalisation of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme in the country. He said that, by March 2012, all services under ICDS would be extended with quality to every child under the age of six.

Expressing grave concern at the low level of female literacy in the country, Shri Mukherjee said that the aim of the National Mission for Female Literacy would be to reduce by half, the current level of female illiteracy, in three years. This mission will focus on minorities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalized groups.

The Finance Minister announced that in order to enable students from economically weaker sections to access higher education, it is proposed to provide them full interest subsidy during the period of moratorium. It will cover loans of students from scheduled banks to pursue any of the approved courses of study in technical and professional streams from recognized institutions in India, he said. It is estimated that over 5 lakh students would avail of this benefit.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

New Project to enable job seekers to register on-line from anywhere to be launched

Budget 2009-10

A new project for the modernization of the Employment Exchanges is to be launched in Public Private Partnership. Announcing this while presenting the Union Budget in Parliament today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that this would enable a job seeker to register on-line from anywhere and approach any Employment Exchange.

Shri Mukherjee said that under the project a national web portal with common software will be developed. This will contain all the data regarding availability of skilled persons on the one hand and requirements of skilled persons by the industry on the other. It will help the youth get placed and enable industry to procure required skills on real time basis, he added.

Guest (Guest) 06 July 2009

Plan Outlay for Ministry of Minority Affairs increased by 74 per cent RS 25 CRORE EACH ALLOCATED FOR AMU CAMPUSES IN MURSHIDABAD AND MALAPPURAM

Budget 2009-10

The Plan Outlay of the Ministry of Minority Affairs has been enhanced from Rs. 1,000 crore in BE 2008-09 to Rs.1,740 crore in 2009-10,registering an increase of 74 per cent. Announcing this while presenting the Union Budge in Parliament today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukheree said that this includes Rs.990 crore for Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities in selected minority concentration districts, Grants-in-aid to Maulana Azad Education Foundation which is almost doubled, and provisions for National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation and Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for Minorities. Allocations have also been made for the new schemes of National Fellowship for Students from the Minority community and Grants-in-aid to Central Wakf council for computerization of records of State Wakf Boards.

Shri Mukherjee announced that a sum of Rs 25 crore each has been allocated for the two campuses that the Aligarh Muslim University has decided to establish at Murshidabad \in West Bengal and Malappuram in Kerala.

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