Thursday 10 July 2014

Union Budget 2014-15

Income Tax exemption limit raised to Rs 2.5 lakh; investment ceiling hiked to Rs 1.5L

Last Updated: Thursday, July 10, 2014, 13:10
Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Bringing cheer to individual taxpayers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his maiden Union Budget 2014-15 in Parliament on Thursday, raised personal tax exemption limit to Rs 2.5 lakh from the current Rs 2 lakh.

Income tax exemption limit for senior citizens has been raised to Rs 3 lakh.

The Investment limit under Section 80C has also been hiked to Rs 1.5 lakh from the current Rs 1 lakh, while the FM increased housing loan interest rate deduction limit to Rs 2 Lakh.

In further relief to the depositors, the FM announced that the PPF (Public Provident Fund) deposit ceiling will be raised to Rs 1.5 lakh from the existing Rs 1 lakh.

The FM also announced to raise FDI in Defence and Insurance sectors to 49 percent and said that the subsidy regime, particularly food and fuel, will be overhauled.

Assuring investors that retrospective amendments to tax laws will be undertaken with extreme caution, Jaitley said all fresh cases arising out of the 2012 amendment of I-T Act will be looked into by a high-level CBDT committee.

However, the existing tax disputes, arising out of Retrospective Amendment to the Income tax Act, 1961, and are pending in courts, will be allowed to reach their logical conclusions, he said.

Stating that his predecessors have left a very daunting target of meeting the fiscal deficit, Jaitley said that the BJP government will take this as a challenge and meet the fiscal deficit target of 4.1 percent of GDP.

Jaitley told Parliament that India`s 1.2 billion people were "exasperated" after two years of economic growth of below 5 percent.

He vowed that Asia`s third largest economy would expand at a rate of 7-8 percent within three to four years.

Here are the key highlights of Union Budget 2014-15:

Taxation:

Personal tax exemption limit raised to Rs 2.5 lakh from current Rs 2 lakh for taxpayers below 60 years

Senior citizens' tax exemption limit hiked from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh

No change in surcharge for corporates, individuals

Education Cess to stay at current 3%

Investment limit under Section 80C hiked to Rs 1.5 lakh from current Rs 1 lakh

Exemption on housing loans interest on self-occupied property increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh

Other highlights:

The people of India have decisively voted for change

India unhesitatingly desires to grow

We look forward to lower levels of inflation

The country is no mood to suffer from unemployment, lack of infrastructure and apathetic governance

The continuing slowdown in emerging economies has posed threat to global economic recovery

Slow decision-making has led to slow growth

Steps announced in the budget are aimed for sustained growth of 7-8% within the next three-four years

It would not be wise to expect that the same can be done and must be done in the first budget being presented within the first 45 days of the new govt

We will leave no stone unturned to create an vibrant and strong India

Will lay down broad policy indicators in the budget

We cannot spend beyond our means, we needs to follow fiscal prudence

We cannot leave a legacy of debt for our future generations

Considering we have 2 years of GDP growth and static industrial sector, the target of 4.1% fiscal deficit is daunting

I accept this target as a challenge

Black money is curse on our economy

We have to take bold steps to spur growth in economy. They are directional

Govt committed to minimum government maximum governance

Aim to make food and fuel subsidy more targeted so that it helps those who need them

Urgent need to generate more resources for the economy

This govt will not bring any change in tax rates retrospectively

All retro taxes to be scrutinized by a high-level committee

GST by end of the year (sets no firm deadline)

To encourage development of smart cities; FDI cap on minimum built up area reduced

Policy of NDA govt is to promote FDI in select sectors

GST will streamline tax administration and result in higher tax collection for Centre and states

FDI in defence sector to go up to 49%

Greater autonomy to banks

PSU 247,944 cr capex to create industrial cycle

Smart cities: PM has vision of developing 100 new cities

Rs 7,060 cr fund for smart cities

Tourism: e-visas to be introduced at nine airports in the country in a phased manner

Real estate investment trusts – modified REITS is being announced for infrastructure projects to reduce pressure on banking system

Kisan Vikas Patra to be pushed further

New scheme for skill development called Skill India to be launched

Sanitation in every household by 2019

Shyama Prassad Mukherjee Rozgar mission to be launched

New scheme for agricultural irrigation

Rs 500 cr for rural electrification

Rs 200 cr for Sardar Vallabhbhai statue in Gujarat

Rs 50000 cr for SC/ST schemes

Social security: minimum pension of Rs 1000 per month for all subscribers of EPFO scheme

National level institute for mental health to be set up

Currency notes with braille like signs to help the blind

Rs 150 cr on new scheme to improve safety of women in big cities

'Beti bacahao, beti padahao' scheme to be launched – Rs 100 cr allocation

Gender main-streaming: School curriculum to have a chapter on the issue

MNREGA will be made more productive; it will be linked to agriculture related activities

Women SHGs bank loan scheme to be extended to other districts

Rural housing scheme: allocation increased to Rs 8000 cr

Watershed programme: New prog with outlay of Rs 2000 cr

Backward region grant fund for 272 backward districts - BRGF will be restructured

Rs 3600 cr for national rural drinking water programme

Health for all: free drug and free diagnostic services

Four more AIIMS to be set up in AP, WB, Vidharbha and Purvanchal – Rs 500 cr allocation

12 more govt medical colleges to be added

Aim to create an AIIMS in every state

Govt to provide toilet and drinking water in all girl schools

New teachers training scheme is being launched: Rs 500 cr allocated

Rs 100 cr for virtual classrooms

National Centre of Humanities would be set up in MP

Five more IITs and five more IIMs to be set up

Pan-India programme called Digital India would be launched – it will provide broadband connectivity to villages

5 new IITs in Jammu, Chhattisgarh, Goa, AP & Kerala

5 new IIMs in HP, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha & Maharashtra

Program for upgradation of skills and ancient arts for the minorities

Two more research institutes on farming to be set up in Assam and Jharkhand

New agri univ in AP, Rajasthan

Horticulture univ in Telangana and Haryana

National rural and tech mission is proposed – Rs 500 cr allocated

New plan to promote community radio – Rs 100 cr allocated

Urban renewal to get Rs 50000 cr

Urabn metro: govt will encourage metro system in PPP mode

Rs 100 cr for Lucknow and Ahmedabad metro projects

New mission for low cost affordable housing for urban poor – Rs 4000 cr allocated

Easier flow of FDI is also being encouraged in this sector

Rs 100 cr for modernisation of madrasas

Slum development to be included in Corporate Social Responsibility activities

Urban renewal will address drinking water, use of recycled water,solid waste management, digital connectivity; 500 habitats supported

15 Model Rural Health Research centers to be set up for rural health issues

Anti-poverty programmes will be targeted well

New scheme to provide soil health card to each farmer- Rs 100 cr allocated

Climate change is a reality which we have to face – national adaptation fund for climate change to be set up - Rs 100 allocated

Finance to 5 lakh joint farming groups through NABARD

Price stabilisation fund to be set up - Rs 500 cr allocated

State govts to be encouraged to set up farmers' markets in cities and town

Rs 8 lakh crore target for agriculture credit

3% tax subvention for farmers who pay up on time

RIDF target raised to 30000 cr

Warehousing: Rs 5000 cr allocated

Set up long term rural credit fund to be started by NABARD

Rs 5000 cr for STRC fund

To set up 100 mobile soil testing labs across country

See FY'14 growth at 4%

Committed to restructuring FCI

Kisan Television will be launched this year – this will provide real time info to farmers on farming techniques – Rs 100 cr allocated

All the govt departments and ministries will be integrated through e-platform by 31 Dec this year

Export proportion mission to be set up

Committed to revive SEZs

Effective steps to revilatise SEZs

SMEs form the backbone of economy

Most SMEs are owned and run by SC/STs and OBCs

Committee to be set up to look at financing this sector

National Industrial Corridor with headquarters in Pune will be set up. Rs 100 crores alloted

Apprentice Act to be suitably amended to strengthen the Apprentice Training Scheme

6 more textile clusters to be set up at Bareily, Lucknow, Kutch, Mysore, Bhagalpur and TN

Hastkala academy to be set up in Delhi

Pashmina production prog in J&K

To set up 7 new Industrial Smart Cities

Manufacturing units will be allowed to sell products through retail, e-commerce

Trade facilitation centre to promote handloom work in Varanasi

Ganga inland navigation – jal marg from Allahabad to Haldia at the cost of Rs 4200 cr

New scheme to develop new airports in tier 2 and tier 3 cities

Road sector needs huge investment

NHAI and state highways get 37,000 cr which includes Rs 3000 cr for Northeast

New expressways to be developed in parallel to the development on industrial corridors

Rs 100 cr for new coal based power generation technology

Big solar projects in Rajasthan, TN and Ladakh – Rs 400 cr allocated

Current impasse in mining sector will be resolved expeditiously

Royalty on mining will be reviewed as suggested by many state governments

Capital markets: Need to strengthen regulatory framework

Essential to have modern monetary policy framework, Govt to work with RBI on this

Liberalise AGR-GDR scheme part

Indian capital market to be energized by introduction of single KYC scheme

Urgent need to converge Indian accounting standards with international ones

Adherence to Indian accounting standards to be made mandatory by 2017

Two bank accounts in each household for marginal sections

Banks to be encouraged to give long term loans to industrial sector

NPA is a cause of worry

6 new debt recovery tribunals to be set up

Insurance penetration is still very low

Pending Insurance Amendment Bill to be taken up in Parliament

Benefits of insurance have not reached larger section of people, will address in multi-pronged manner with stakeholders

Provide all households with banking facilities to empower the weaker sections

Committee will be set up to examine how unused money in postal schemes can be utilised

Govt committed to providing 24x7 power supply to all homes

Chit Fund and Money Circulation Act will be overhauled

PPF ceiling upped from Rs 1 lakh to be Rs 1.5 lakh

Small savings scheme to be revitalised

Capital outlay of defence increased by Rs 5000 cr

New war memorial will be constructed at Princess Park – Rs 100 cr allocated

Small savings scheme to promote girl child, which will mature at the time of her marriage, higher education will be introduced

Renewed effort to link rivers, Rs 100 cr for detailed study on it

New scheme Namami Ganga for rejuvenation of River Ganga gets Rs 2,037 cr

Rs 990 crore for development of villages along the border

Rs 100 cr set aside for development of Technology Development Fund

National Police Memorial to be allocated Rs 50 cr

Allocation for defence Rs 2,29,000 crore

Budget proposes National Housing Banking programme; sets aside Rs 8,000

Rs 500 cr for five tourists circuits

National sports academies to be set up in different parts of India

Rs 200 cr for upgradation of stadiums in J&K

Sports university to be set up in Manipur, Rs 100 allocated

Rs 100 cr for training for forthcoming Asian and Commonwealth Games

Young leaders prog for youth to be started, Rs 100 cr set aside

Displaced Kashmiri migrants rehabilitation gets Rs 500 cr

National Centre for Himalayan studies to be set up in Uttarakhand

National institute for customs and central excise to be set up in Karnataka

Development of rail system in Northeast get Rs 1000 cr over and above what has been provided in interim budget

New 24x7 TV channel for Northeast

Union govt to help Andhra and Telangana in reorganisation

Rs 200 cr for power reforms and Rs 500 cr for water reforms in Delhi

Rs 150 cr for communication needs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Rs 100 cr set aside for development of organic farming in Northeast region

Budget estimates:

Non-plan expenditure at Rs 12,19,892 crore

Non-tax revenue at Rs 2,12,544 crore

Revenue deficit pegged at 2.9 percent of GDP

Plan expenditure at over Rs 5.75 lakh crore

Impact of tax changes have been factored

60 more Ayakar Sewa Kendras to be set up in the country

Income Tax Dept is expected to function not only as an enforcement dept but also as a facilitator

Net effect of direct tax proposals is revenue loss of Rs 22,200 cr

Long-term Capital Gains tax on MFs raised to 20% from 10%