How Twitter reacted
On February 1, in the absence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal is presenting the NDA government's interim budget. The budget, which is being presented two months ahead of the general elections, have all eyes on it as it will make or break the present government's future in power.
Live updates>>> http://bit.ly/DNABUDGET2019
Highlights >>> http://bit.ly/DNABUDGETHL2019
The budget is also crucial as the PM Narendra Modi Cabinet, has been facing increasing criticism over several issues like rising farmer distress, loss of jobs and a lower growth rate. Here are the highlights of Interim Budget 2019 being presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on February 1:
#BudgetforNewIndia - here the middle classes - No tax upto 5 Lakhs Taxable Income
— Vijay (@centerofright) February 1, 2019
BOOM. There goes the last ball six for the middle class.
— Yashwant Deshmukh (@YRDeshmukh) February 1, 2019
How's the josh?
— Venkat Ananth (@venkatananth) February 1, 2019
Exemption limits for income tax
— Ashu (@muglikar_) February 1, 2019
1. Upto 5 lacs: full tax rebate so no tax. Yayyyyyy
So anyone making 6.5lac and does investment of 1.5lacs then 0 tax
NDA back in 2019 or too late? Budget has hit all the right notes.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) February 1, 2019
If last ball six had a face #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/aykcjyTabk
— Bhanu Pratap Singh (@Bhanukanaura) February 1, 2019
Opposition right now. Last ball six by Modi...!! #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/0EDB8vfccr
— Joker (@Karthii96694806) February 1, 2019
#Budget2019 explained. pic.twitter.com/TNMv2uwWt9
— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) February 1, 2019
Main Picture: @Atheist_Krishna/Twitter
1. Budget 2019: Farmers
)
In a bid to woo farmers, poor and the marginalised, Finance Minister Piyush Goel on Friday announced the higher allocation of funds for their benefit.
While the Finance Minister made a landmark announcement of providing Rs 6,000 as assured income to poor and marginalised farmers annually, he also said that MNREGA allocation has been set at Rs 60,000 crore to create employment opportunities.
He also announced allocation and schemes for cow protection and increasing their productivity.
Under the assured income scheme for farmers, Goyal said nearly 12 crore farmers are expected to benefit.
Presenting the Interim Budget during the Budget Session of the Parliament, Finance Minister Goel said that Rs 1,70,000 crore has been spent by the government during 2018-19 to bring food at affordable rates to the poor. He added that Rs 60,000 crore has been set aside with regard to the employment guarantee scheme – MNREGA. “If there is a need we will increase the allocation,” Goel said.
“Targeted expenditure has been made by this government to improve the quality of life of the people in the villages. About 14.80 lakh habitats have been connected with pucca roads and poor children who used to earlier walk through broken lanes have now buses coming to their villages,” Goel said.
2. Budget 2019: Defence
)
The defence Budget for the financial year 2019-20 was on Friday pegged at Rs 3 lakh crore, up by around RS 4,500 crore from the previous fiscal.
Announcing the outlay while presenting the interim Budget in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said it is the first time that the outlay has touched Rs 3 lakh crore mark.
He said if more funds are required, those will be made available.
The intent is to strengthen the defence of the country, Goyal said.
The defence Budget earmarked in the last fiscal was Rs 2,95,511 crore.
Talking about One Rank, One Pension (OROP), the Finance Minister said Rs 35,000 crore have already been dispersed under this scheme by the present government.
He used the occasion to target the previous UPA government, saying it had earmarked just Rs 500 crore for the purpose.
3. How's the Josh?
)
Goyal said, “Yeh jo desh badal raha hai, desh ki josh se badal raha hai”, to which the other members screamt, “How’s the josh?” For the same, he gave a special mention to Uri: The Surgical Strike.
He later on went on to talk about Entertainment subsidy and said, “A single window clearance for filmmaking to be made available to filmmakers, anti-camcording provision to also to be introduced to Cinematography Act to fight piracy.”
