BUDGET 2009-2010
July 6, 2009

Key Features of Budget 2009-2010

Challenges and Overview of Interim Budget 2009- 2010

Growth rate of Gross Domestic Product dipped from an average of over 9 per cent in the previous three fiscal years to 6.7 per cent during 2008-09 and finally it reaches 9% PA.

13 % Whole sale price index  in August, 2008 and had an equally sharp fall to zero per cent in March, 2009.

The structure of India’s economy changed over the last ten years with contribution of the services sector to GDP at well over 50 per cent and share of merchandise trade doubling to 38.9 per cent of GDP in 2008-09.

Recognizing economic recovery and growth as co-operative effort of the Central and State Governments, meeting with Finance Ministers of States held as part of preparation of the Budget. This is intended to become an annual feature.

Measures taken by the Government towards Economic Revival: 

For Short-term Measures :-

To counter the negative fallout of the global slowdown on the Indian economy, Government responded by providing three focused fiscal stimulus packages in the form of tax relief and increased expenditure on public projects along with RBI taking a number of monetary easing and liquidity enhancing measures.

Fiscal accommodation led to an increase in fiscal deficit from 2.7 per cent in 2007-08 to 6.2 per cent of GDP in 2008-09.

The fiscal stimulus at 3.5 per cent of GDP at current market prices for 2008-09 amounts to Rs.1,86,000 crore.

Measures taken by the Government were effective in arresting the fall in GDP growth rate in 2008-09. 6.7 per cent growth rate recorded in 2008-09.

For Infrastructure Development :-

IIFCL to evolve a Takeout financing scheme in consultation with banks to facilitate incremental lending to infrastructure sector.

IIFCL to refinance 60 % of commercial bank loans for PPP projects in critical sectors over the next fifteen to eighteen months. IIFCL and Banks are now in a position to support projects involving total investment of Rs.1,00,000 crore.

For Highway and Railways

Allocation to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) increased by 23 % over B.E. 2008-09 in B.E. 2009-10 and allocation for Railways increased from Rs.10,800 crore in Interim B.E. 2009-10 to Rs.15,800 crore in B.E. 2009-10.

For Urban Infrastructure

Allocation under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) stepped up by 87 % to Rs.12,887 crore in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.

Allocation for housing and provision of basic amenities to urban poor enhanced to Rs.3,973 crore in B.E. 2009-10. This includes provision for Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), a new scheme announced.

Brihan Mumbai Storm Water Drainage Project (BRIMSTOWA)

Provision for the project BRIMSTOWA initiated in 2007 and funded through Central Assistance to address the problem of flooding in Mumbai, enhanced from Rs.200 crore in Interim B.E. 2009-10 to Rs.500 crore in B.E. 2009-10 to expedite completion of the project.

Power

Allocation under Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (APDRP) increased by 160 % to Rs.2,080 crore in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.

Gas

Blueprint to be developed for long distance gas pipelines leading to a National Gas Grid to facilitate transportation of gas across the length and breadth of the country.

Assam Gas Cracker Project

Outlay for Assam Gas Cracker Project stepped up suitably in B.E. 2009-10.

AGRICULTURAL REFORMS :-

Agicultural credit flow increased from 2, 87,000 crores in 2008-09 to Rs.3,25,000 crores for the year 2009-10.

Interest subvention scheme for short term crop loans up to Rs.3 lakh per farmer at the interest rate of 7 per cent per annum to be continued. 

Additional subvention of 1 per cent to be paid from this year, as incentive to those farmers who repay short term crop loans on schedule. Additional allocation of Rs.411 crore over Interim B.E. 2009-10 made for this.

Debt Relief for Farmers

Time given to the farmers having more than two hectares of land to pay 75 per cent of their overdues under Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme extended from 30th June, 2009 to 31st December, 2009.

Task force will be set up to look into farmer suicides in Maharashtra.

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme

Allocation under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) increased by 75 % over B.E. 2008-09.

Allocation under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) stepped up by 30 % in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.

EXPORT SECTOR REFORMS :-

Adjustment assistance scheme to provide enhanced Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) cover at 95 % to badly hit sectors extended upto March 2010.

Allocation for Market Development Assistance Scheme enhanced to Rs.124 crore in B.E. 2009-10.

Interest subvention of 2 % on pre-shipment credit for seven employment oriented export sectors extended beyond the current deadline of September 30, 2009 to March 31, 2010.

To facilitate flow of credit at reasonable rates, Rs.4,000 crore provided as special fund out of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). This will incentivise Banks and State Finance Corporations (SFCs) to lend to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by refinancing 50 per cent of incremental lending to MSEs during the current financial year.

Stimulus package for print media comprising waiver of 15 % agency commission on DAVP advertisements and 10 % increase in DAVP rates to be paid as a special relief subject to documentary proof of loss of revenue in nongovernmental advertisements, extended from 30th June, 2009 to 31st December, 2009.

MEDIUM-TERM SUSTAINABILITY

To bring the fiscal deficit under control, institutional reform measures to be initiated during the current year itself.

Fertilizer Subsidy Method To Be Modified

To ensure balanced application of fertilizers for increasing agricultural productivity, Government intends to move towards a nutrient based subsidy regime so as to cover larger basket of fertilizers with innovative fertilizer products available in the market at reasonable prices.

It is intended to move to a system of direct transfer of subsidy to the farmers in due course.

Petroleum and Diesel pricing Policy

With almost three quarters of our oil consumption met through imports, it is important to recognize that domestic prices of petrol and diesel are broadly in sync with global prices. Government to set up an expert group to advise on a viable and sustainable system of pricing petroleum products.

Taxation

SARAL – II forms to be introduced early.

People’s ownership of PSUs

While retaining at least 51 % Government equity in Public Sector Undertakings, people’s participation in disinvestment programmes to be encouraged.

Public Sector Enterprises such as banks and insurance companies to remain in public sector and will be given full support including capital infusion to grow and remain competitive.

Financial Sector

The threshold for non-promoter public shareholding for all listed companies to be raised in a phased manner.

Scheduled commercial banks allowed to set up off-site ATMs without prior approval subject to reporting.

A sub-committee of State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) to identify and formulate an action plan for providing banking facilities in under-banked/unbanked areas in the next three years. Rs.100 crore set aside as one-time grant in-aid to ensure provision of at least one centre/Point of Sales (POS) for banking services in each of the unbanked blocks.

Government has established Competition Commission of India, an autonomous regulatory body. An Appellate body headed by a retired judge of Supreme Court also constituted.

TOWARDS INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)

Allocation under NREGS increased by 144 % to Rs.39,100 crore.

To increase productivity of assets and resources under NREGA, convergence with other schemes relating to agriculture, forests, water resources, land resources, rural roads initiated.

National Food Security Act

National Food Security Act to be brought in to ensure entitlement of 25 kilo of rice or wheat per month at Rs.3 per kilo to every family living below the poverty line in rural or urban areas.

Bharat Nirman

Allocation for Bharat Nirman increased by 45 % in 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09. Allocations under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) increased by 59 % to Rs.12,000 crore. Under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), allocation increased by 27 % to Rs.7,000 crore.

Allocation under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) increased by 63 % to Rs.8,800 crore. Allocation of Rs.2,000 crore made for Rural Housing Fund (RHF) in National Housing Bank (NHB) to boost the resource base of NHB for refinance operations in rural housing sector.

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)

New scheme Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) with an allocation of Rs.100 crore launched on pilot basis for integrated development of 1000 villages having population of scheduled castes above 50 %.

JOBS FOR WEAKER SECTIONS

The Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) restructured as National Rural Livelihood Mission, focused in approach and time bound for poverty eradication by 2014-15. In addition to capital subsidy at enhanced rate, interest subsidy to poor households to be provided for loans upto Rs.1 lakh from banks.

There are over 22 lakh Women’s Self Help Groups linked with banks. Reach of SHGs to be widened to enrol at least 50 % of all rural women in India as members of SHGs over the next five years.

Corpus of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh to be increased from Rs.100 crore to Rs.500 crore over the next few years.

Female Literacy

National Mission for Female Literacy to be launched with focus on minorities, SC, ST and other marginalized groups with the aim to reduce level of female illiteracy by half in three years.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

All ICD Services to be extended to every child under the age of six by March, 2012.

Student Loans to Weaker Sections

To enable students from economically weaker sections to access higher education, a scheme to provide full interest subsidy during the period of moratorium introduced to cover loans taken from scheduled banks to pursue any of the approved courses of study in technical and professional streams from recoganised institutions in India.

Welfare of Minorities

Plan outlay of Ministry of Minority Affairs enhanced from Rs.1,000 crore in B.E. 2008-09 to Rs.1,740 crore in 2009-10 registering an increase of 74 %. This includes Rs.990 crore for Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities, Grants-in-aid to Maulana Azad Education Foundation, National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation and pre and post matric scholarship for minorities.

Allocations made for the new schemes of National Fellowship for Students from minority community and Grants-in-aid to Central Wakf Council for computerization of records of State Wakf Boards.

Rs.25 crore each allocated for establishing new campuses at Murshidabad in West Bengal and Malappuram in Kerala by Aligarh Muslim University.

Welfare of workers in the unorganized sector

Necessary financial allocation will be made to ensure implementation of social security schemes for occupation like weavers, fishermen and women, toddy tappers, leather and handicraft workers, plantation labour, construction labour, mine workers, bidi workers and rickshaw pullers.

Employment Exchanges

As a part of modernization of Employment Exchanges, public private partnership to be launched so that a job seeker can register on line from anywhere and approach any employment exchange. 

Handloom

One handloom mega cluster each in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and one powerloom mega cluster in Rajasthan to be set up. New mega clusters for carpets to be also set up in Srinagar (J&K) and Mirzapur (UP).

Health

Allocation under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) increased by Rs.2,057 crore over Interim B.E. 2009-10 of Rs.12,070 crore.

All BPL families to be covered under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). Allocation under RSBY increased by 40 % over previous allocation to Rs.350 crore in B.E. 2009-10.

Environment and climate change

In furtherance to National Action Plan on Climate Change, eight national missions representing a multi-pronged long-term and integrated approach to be launched.

National Ganga River Basin Authority set up. Budgetary allocation under National River and Lake Conservation Plans increased from Rs.335 crore in B.E. 2008-09 to Rs.562 crore in B.E. 2009-10.

Special one-time grant of Rs.100 crore given to Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun.

Rs.15 crore each to be allocated to Botanical Survey of India and Zoological Survey of India. An additional amount of Rs.15 crore to be allocated for Geological Survey of India.

TOWARDS BUILDING ACOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS

Improving Delivery of Public Services

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to set up online data base with identity and biometric details of Indian residents and provide enrolment and verification services across country. Provision of Rs.120 crore made for this in the Budget.

First set of unique identity number to be rolled out in 12 to 18 months.

National Security

Additional amount of Rs.430 crore provided to modernise police machinery in the States.

Additional amount of Rs.2,284 crore proposed for construction of fences, roads, flood lights on the international borders.

Programme for housing to create 1 lakh dwelling units for Central Para-military Forces personnel to be launched through innovative financing model.

One Rank One Pension for Ex-servicemen (OROP)

Government has decided to substantially improve the pension of pre 01.01.2006 defence pensioners below officer rank and bring pre 10.10.1997 pensioners on par with post 10.10.1997 pensioners. The decisions to be implemented from 01st July, 2009 and will cost more than Rs.2,100 crore annually.

Education

Provision for the scheme ‘Mission in Education through ICT’ substantially increased to Rs.900 crore and the provision for setting up and up-gradation of Polytechnics under the Skill Development Mission enhanced to Rs.495 crore.

Rs.827 crore allocated for opening one Central University in each uncovered State.

Rs.2,113 crore allocated for IITs and NITs which includes a provision of Rs.450 crore for new IITs and NITs.

The overall Plan budget for higher education is to be increased by Rs.2,000 crore.

Rs.50 crore allocated for Punjab University, Chandigarh. 

Commonwealth Games, 2010

Outlays to be stepped up from Rs.2,112 crore in Interim Budget to Rs.3,472 crore in regular Budget 2009-10.

Srilankan Tamils

Rs.500 crore allocated for rehabilitation of internally displaced persons and reconstruction of the northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka.

Cyclone Aila

Rs.1,000 crore allocated for programme for rebuilding the damaged infrastructure caused due to cyclone Aila in West Bengal.

Source: http://indiabudget.nic.in