Highlights of General Budget 2009-10 (Part II)

New Delhi, July 6 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Minister on Monday presented the General Budget 2009-10 in the Parliament.

Other highlights of General Budget 2009-10 are as follows:

1. Total budget expenditure for 2009-10 will Rs 10,28,032 cr

2. Modernisation of national employment exchanges

3. 50 per cent of rural women in self-help groups

4. Higher public investment in infrastructure

5. Defence outlay has gone up

6. Rs 1,000 cr for Aila rehabilitation programme

7. Rs 25 cr each for AMU campuses in Murshidabad and Mallapuram

8. Rs 2,113 cr for IITs and NITs

9. Pension of non-commissioned officers to be hiked

10. Commonwealth allocation hiked to Rs 16,300 cr

11. Allocation of Rs 50 cr to Chandigarh University

12. Government to hike allocation to National Ganga Project to Rs 562 cr

13. One rank, one pension for ex-servicemen from July 1

14. Allowances to para-military forces at par with defence forces

15. Unique Identification ID project to tap private talent

16. National action plan on climate change

17. Full interest subsidy for students in approved institutions

18. Goods and Services Tax to be introduced from April 1, 2010

19. Govt committed to tax reforms

20. New tax code to be set up in 45 days

21. Eliminate surcharge on personal Income tax by ten per cent

22. Hike in IT exemption for women to Rs 1,90,000 and to Rs 2,40,000 for senior citizens

23. Anonymous funds to charitable bodies to get some tax relief

24. Commodities Transaction Tax to be scrapped

25. Small businesses exempt from advance tax

26. Custom duty on LCD panels halved

27. Branded jewellery, mobile phone accessories and drugs for heart diseases to become cheaper

28. Customs duty on bio-diesel reduced

29. Tax holiday extended for textile units

30. Customs duty on gold and silver import increased (ANI)