Budget 2018: This Budget’s aim is to help weaker sections of society, says FM Jaitley

This Budget assumes even more importance as it is the last full budget of the Narendra Modi government, before the next Lok Sabha elections, expected in 2019.
FM Arun Jaitley on Thursday presented the current NDA government’s fifth Budget, seeking to address agriculture distress, job creation and growth boost. The Finance Minister said that the government is committed to the welfare of farmers and agriculture sector. While the government did not announce any change in the personal Income Tax structure, it did provide some relief to the salaried class and senior citizens.
The budget is in the spirit of sabka saath sabka vikas, says BJP president Amit Shah.
Ayushman Bharat is a new thought, says BJP president Amit Shah.
Operation Green is a landmark move, says BJP president Amit Shah.
BJP president Amit Shah addresses media, says the government has made an announcement that will benefit the farmers. They will now get one and half times more minimum support price.
The excise duty on petrol and diesel has been converted to cess, therefore, there is no impact on the fuel prices, says government.
There are some factors in Budget that benefit all, for instance infrastructure development. This is for the first time the contribution of salaried class has been singled out, then we have a whole chapter on senior citizens and they have been given several benefits, and small and medium enterprises have also been given benefits, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
GST revenue for 11 months factored into the Budget, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
A social security knit has to be created, and we need resources for that, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The mega health scheme we have announced is a very big scheme, and under that scheme, 10 crore families from across the country would be selected, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Our priority was to help those who are not privilleged, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
A set of structural reforms had their own impact, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
This budget blends fiscal prudence with the requirement and needs of the economy today, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
We are disappointed with the Union Budget presented today. Many pressing state issues like Railway Zone, Polavaram project funding, Funding for capital Amaravati and other pending issues of Andhra Pradesh are not addressed in the budget, says YS Chowdary, MoS Science & Technology, TDP
Jaitley: My eventual roadmap is to bring down the corporate tax to 25%
This Budget has the capability of job creation, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
“I want congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on announcing the world’s biggest national health protection scheme. This budget is for the development of the poor, for farmers and increasing their income, senior citizens and women,” says Union Minister Smriti Irani.
PM Modi: This Budget is one that is beneficial for all sections of the society
PM Modi: We have imitated this ‘ease of living’ feeling in government’s Ujjwala Yojna too. This scheme is not just helping women get rid of the smoke in kitchens, it is also helping in their empowerment.
PM Modi: From food processing to fiber optics, roads to shipping, youth to senior citizen, rural India to Ayushmaan Bharat, Digital India to Start Up India, this budget strengthens hopes and aspirations of crores of Indians
PM Modi: I congratulate the Finance Minister for the decision regarding MSP. I am sure it will help farmers tremendously
PM Modi: The farmers, Dalits, tribal communities will gain from this Budget. It will bring new opportunities for rural India
PM Modi: This budget has devoted attention to all sectors, ranging from agriculture to infrastructure
PM Modi: This budget has devoted attention to all sectors, ranging from agriculture to infrastructure
PM Modi hails Budget 2018, says it is farmer friendly, common citizen friendly, business environment friendly and development friendly. “It will add to ‘Ease of Living’,” he said.
Propose to make changes in Custom Act 1962 to enhance ease of business, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Propose to increase custom duty on mobile phone from 15% to 20%, some parts of television to 15%, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
On indirect tax, my budget proposals are mainly on the custom side, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
E-assessment will transform the system of functioning of the Income Tax Department, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Propose to extend 25% corporate tax rate to companies with revenue up to Rs 250 crore, sas Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Senior citizens can claim Rs 50,000 for general medical Expenditure, sas Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Standard relief for senior citizens, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Propose to allow a standard deduction of Rs 40,000 for transport and healthcare expenses, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
1.89 crore salaried class have filed their returns, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Automatic revision of MPs emoluments every 5 years indexed to inflation, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Excess revenue collected from personal income tax at Rs 90,000 crore, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
100% deduction to companies registered as farmer producer companies, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Effective tax payers now 8.27 crore, against over 6.47 crore in 2013-14, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Demonetisation was received as imandari ka utsav by those who are honest, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Huge increase in the number of taxpayers in the last financial year, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Predicting fiscal deficit at 3.3% of GDP, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
In 2017-18 the central government will receive GST benefits for just 11 months, and it will have its impact, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
24 public sector units to be divested, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
All steps will be taken to eliminate use of cryptocurrencies, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Bank recap to help banks lend additional Rs 5 lakh crore, says Finance Minister.
A comprehensive gold policy, gold monetisation scheme will be revamped, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
RBI Act being ammended, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Disinvestment target pegged in 2017-18 has been achieved, I am setting a target of 80,000 crore for 2018-19, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Aadhaar is essential, every individual enterprise will get unique ID, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Industry-friendly defence production facility, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.