The Key Highlights Of Union Budget 2018-2019

  Budget 2018 – Agriculture Sector 

• The government’s emphasis will be on generating higher incomes for farmers, hence; helping them produce more with lesser cost, therefore; in turn, earning higher income for their produce.
• Jaitley stressed on the fact that India’s agricultural production is at a record high level today. Furthermore; to say 275 million tonne foodgrains and 300 million tonne fruits and vegetable have been produced in the country.
• The FM said the government wants farmers to earn 1.5 times the production cost, hence; the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) for the Kharif Crops has been set at 1.5 times the produce price. Furthermore; Jaitley added that the Centre will work with states to ensure that all farmer get a fair price.
• Extend the facility of Kisan credit card to fisheries and for animal husbandry
• Rs 10,000 crore set aside for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Fund
• Rs 10,000 crore set aside for animal husbandry infra fund

   Budget 2018- Tax Sector

There is no personal income tax changes in budget 2018-19 

• Growth in direct taxes (till Jan 15) is 18.7 %
• Surcharge of 10% on income above Rs 50 lakh but less than Rs 1 cr to be continued next year; 15% on income above Rs 1 Crore to continue
  
• 100% tax deduction is allowed to co-operative societies
• Corporate Tax of 25% extended to companies with turnover up to Rs 250 cr in financial year 2016-17
  
• Incentives for Senior citizens: Exemptions in income of Rs 10,000 from Banks FD and post offices
• Senior citizens to get Rs 50,000 per annum exemption for medical insurance under Sec 80D
• Rs 7.5 lakh per senior citizen limit for investment in interest-bearing LIC schemes doubled to Rs 15 lakh 
• Standard deduction of Rs 40,000 allowed for transport, medical reimbursement for salaried tax payers 
• Govt to reduce hardships faced in realty deals; no adjustment to be made in case circle rate does not exceed 5 pc of sale consideration.
• Short term capital tax remains at 15% 
• Education cess increased to 4% from 3% to collect additional Rs 11,000 crore 
• GST revenue will be received only for 11 months, that will have an effect on balance sheets
  
• Govt makes PAN mandatory for any entity entering into a financial transaction of Rs 2.5 lakh or more.
  

  Budget 2018 – HealthCare Sector

• Rs. 5 Lakh medical insurance cover per year for 10 crore families was announced
• Aayushman Bharat programme: 1.5 lakh centres will be set up to provide health facilities closer to home.
• Rs 1,200 crore to be allocated for this programme
• Flagship National Healthcare protection scheme, with approximately 50 crore beneficiaries.
• Finance minister announces setting up of one medical college for every three parliamentary constituencies, with 24 New government medical colleges also being envisioned.
• Government also will work on upgrading hospitals to medical colleges

   Budget 2018 – Custom Duties

• Social welfare surcharge of 10% on imported goods.
• Central Board of Excise and Customs renamed as Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
• Import of solar tempered glass for manufacture of solar cells exempted from customs duty.
• Customs duty on crude edible vegetable oils like groundnut oils safflower seed oil hiked from 12.5% to 30%; on refined edible vegetable oil from 20% to 35%
• Customs duty on sunglasses, cigarette lighter, toys, bus and truck tyres, select furniture hiked.
• Customs duty on imitation jewellery hiked from 15% to 20%; doubled on all watches to 20%.
• Import duty on LCD/LED/OLED panels, parts of TVs hiked to 15%; duty on smart watches, wearable devices, footwear doubled to 20%

   Budget 2018 – Rural Sector

• 8 Crore poor women will get new LPG connections. 
• PM Saubhagya Yojana: 4 crore poor people will get power connection. 
• The government will spend Rs 16,000 crore on this scheme. 
• Govt plans to construct 2 crore toilets in next fiscal year under Swach Bharat Mission
• Government target house for all by 2022. 51 lakh houses have been constructed affordable houses in rural and further 50 lakh houses in urban areas

 Budget 2018- Education Sector

• Govt to increase digital intensity in education. Technology to be the biggest driver in improving quality of education: FM Jaitley
•  Rs. 1 lakh crore allocated to revitalization and up-gradation of education sector; hence; promoting learning based research and outcomes.
• By 2022, every block with more than 50 per cent ST population therefore; will have Ekalvya schools at par with Navodaya Vidyalayas
• Aims to move from black board to digital board schools by 2022.
• Govt will identify 1000 Btech students each years and provide them to do PHDs in IIT and IISc, while also teaching undergraduate students once a week at that time.

  Budget 2018 – Infrastructure

India needs investment of Rs 50 lakh crore in the infrastructure sector. Construction of new tunnel in Sera Pass to promote tourism. Out of 100 smart cities 99 cities have been selected, with an outlay of Rs 2.04 lakh crore

• 10 prominent tourist sites will be made iconic tourist destinations, with an amalgamation of private funding, marketing and branding
• Bharatmala project: To develop 35,000 KM under phase 1 with an outlay of Rs 5.35 lakh crore
• Govt to introduce pay-as-you-use system for toll payments
• Railway capex has been pegged at Rs 1.48 lakh crore , up from Rs 1.31 lakh crore last year 
• Eliminate unmanned railway crossing 
• All stations with footfall of greater than 25,000 will have escalators. 
• Airport Authority of India (AAI) has 124 airports. Propose to increase the number by at least 5 times 1 billion trips a year, Rs 60 cr has been allocated to kickstart the initiative
• UDAN Scheme to connect 64 unconnected airports across the country

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