Budget Highlights-5

Higher education financing agency to be set up with fund of Rs.1,000 crore

National Skill Development Mission has imparted training to 76 lakh youth; 1,500 multi-skill training institutes to be set up

Model Shops and Establishments Bill to be circulated for voluntary adoption by states

Current account deficit down to $14.4 billion

Rs.2.87 lakh crore for rural and urban local bodies

Animal welfare programme, animal health card, e-marketing platform for connecting breeders

100 percent village electrification to be achieved by May 1, 2018

Appreciation for 75 lakh middle class and lower middle class families for willingly giving up LPG Subsidy

Rs.19,000 crore allotted for PMGSY

Rs.8.5 lakh crore of agricultural credit targetted in 2015-16; and Rs.9 lakh crore in 2016-17

Rs.35,984 crore allocated for agriculture in 2016-17

Five lakh acres to be brought under organic farming over three-year period

MGNREGA to get Rs.38,500 crore

Recapitalisation of banks during next fiscal

Prudent fiscal policy needed, domestic demand should be raised, reforms need to be carried out

Farm, rural sector, infra and social sector to get more funds

Need to prioritise expenditure given recommendations of 7th Pay Commission and OROP implementation

Nine pillars for reforming India, among them agriculture, social sector, education, infra, fiscal discipline, and tax reforms

Presenting budget when global economy in a serious crisis

Amidst global headwinds, the Indian economy has held its own

Converted challenges we inherited into opportunities

CPI inflation down to 5.4 percent from 9 percent-plus, bringing big relief to the public

Forex reserves at highest-ever level