News Analysis India

Tag: budget

  • MHA gets more funds for infra & arms to counter terror, border, cyber threats

    Express News Service

    With a major focus on national security the Government earmarked Rs 1.96 lakh crore in the 2023-24 budget allocation to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responsible for India’s internal security, border management, intel gathering and counter terror offences, in view of the increased challenges.

    This increase of about Rs 10,000 crore over last year’s (2022-23) revised allocations of Rs 1,85,777 crore comes at a time when the ministry is looking at arming counter insurgent forces with better equipment and arms, creating a robust cyber patrolling system and strengthen intel gathering and coordination amongst law enforcement agencies and counter terror forces.

    A substantial amount has been allocated this time for improving infrastructure for the patrolling of international borders amidst increased enemy drone attacks, upgradation of law enforcing infrastructure and modernisation of police besides the paramilitary forces.

    The MHA is responsible for matters concerning internal security, central armed police forces, border management, disaster management, census, and centre-state relations.  In addition, the Ministry makes certain grants to union territories (UTs), since they are not covered by the Finance Commission’s recommendations on devolution and, thus, do not have any share in central taxes.  

    In the current budget major portions of the allocation amounting to Rs 1.28 lakh crore, has been earmarked for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) comprising the Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The figure last year stood at Rs 1.19 crores.

    The increased allocation has come as a refreshing development for the CAPF that has been expecting more funds for infrastructure, technological advancement and security-related equipment — which includes drones, early warning systems, equipment to enhance reaction time, for better training, intelligence gathering and operations.

    The CRPF which is entrusted primarily with the task of internal security duties and fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Maoists backed left winged extremists (LWE) and other ultra outfits has been allocated Rs  31,772.23 crore in comparison to Rs 31,495.88 crore given in 2022-23.

    The Border Security Force (BSF), which guards India’s border with Pakistan and Bangladesh besides handling internal security assignments, has been given Rs 24,771.28 crore in comparison to Rs 23,557.51 crore given in the current fiscal.

    The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which protects vital installations such as nuclear projects, airports and metro networks, has been given Rs 13,214.68 crore in comparison to Rs 12,293.23 crore allocated in 2022-23.

    The Shashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan, has been allocated Rs 8,329.10 crore in comparison to Rs 8,019.78 crore given in 2022-23.

    The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which guards the Sino-Indian border, got Rs 8,096.89 crore in comparison to Rs 7,626.38 crore given in the current fiscal.

    The Assam Rifles, which is deployed along the India-Myanmar border and for anti-insurgency duties in the Northeast, has been allocated Rs 7,052.46 crore in comparison to Rs 6,561.33 crore given in the current fiscal.

    With a major focus on national security the Government earmarked Rs 1.96 lakh crore in the 2023-24 budget allocation to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responsible for India’s internal security, border management, intel gathering and counter terror offences, in view of the increased challenges.

    This increase of about Rs 10,000 crore over last year’s (2022-23) revised allocations of Rs 1,85,777 crore comes at a time when the ministry is looking at arming counter insurgent forces with better equipment and arms, creating a robust cyber patrolling system and strengthen intel gathering and coordination amongst law enforcement agencies and counter terror forces.

    A substantial amount has been allocated this time for improving infrastructure for the patrolling of international borders amidst increased enemy drone attacks, upgradation of law enforcing infrastructure and modernisation of police besides the paramilitary forces.

    The MHA is responsible for matters concerning internal security, central armed police forces, border management, disaster management, census, and centre-state relations.  In addition, the Ministry makes certain grants to union territories (UTs), since they are not covered by the Finance Commission’s recommendations on devolution and, thus, do not have any share in central taxes.  

    In the current budget major portions of the allocation amounting to Rs 1.28 lakh crore, has been earmarked for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) comprising the Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The figure last year stood at Rs 1.19 crores.

    The increased allocation has come as a refreshing development for the CAPF that has been expecting more funds for infrastructure, technological advancement and security-related equipment — which includes drones, early warning systems, equipment to enhance reaction time, for better training, intelligence gathering and operations.

    The CRPF which is entrusted primarily with the task of internal security duties and fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Maoists backed left winged extremists (LWE) and other ultra outfits has been allocated Rs  31,772.23 crore in comparison to Rs 31,495.88 crore given in 2022-23.

    The Border Security Force (BSF), which guards India’s border with Pakistan and Bangladesh besides handling internal security assignments, has been given Rs 24,771.28 crore in comparison to Rs 23,557.51 crore given in the current fiscal.

    The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which protects vital installations such as nuclear projects, airports and metro networks, has been given Rs 13,214.68 crore in comparison to Rs 12,293.23 crore allocated in 2022-23.

    The Shashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan, has been allocated Rs 8,329.10 crore in comparison to Rs 8,019.78 crore given in 2022-23.

    The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which guards the Sino-Indian border, got Rs 8,096.89 crore in comparison to Rs 7,626.38 crore given in the current fiscal.

    The Assam Rifles, which is deployed along the India-Myanmar border and for anti-insurgency duties in the Northeast, has been allocated Rs 7,052.46 crore in comparison to Rs 6,561.33 crore given in the current fiscal.

  • Bullet train project gets momentum after years of stalemate in Maharashtra: Railway minister

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: After years of stalemate, the works on India’s first high-speed bullet train project in Maharashtra side has got momentum with all required clearances obtained from the BJP-allied state government. Earlier, the project that started at an estimated budget of Rs 1, 08,000 crores in 2015, was allegedly delayed due to the previous government’s ‘stalling tactics’ on Maharashtra side.

    Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, a day ago after the site inspection in Mumbai, said that all the tenders for civil construction work have been floated for Maharashtra side after obtaining all clearances from the state government.

    “The work has got momentum in Maharashtra side on this project. I would like to thank the new government of Maharashtra for having given the railways all clearances”, the railway minister told the media, hoping that the country will see the first set of bullet train running by 2026 between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat.

    According to official sources, the railway needs around 433.82 hectares of land for developing tracks and other associated infrastructure for the 506.17km long Mumbai- Ahmadabad bullet train are required in the territory of Maharashtra. “Out of a total 433.83 hectares of land, 313 hectares of land have beenacquired for the project now. In the same way, out of 954.3 hectares of land, 942.9 hector of land in Gujarat side -which 98.90% of total required land, have already been acquired and works progress in advance in Gujarat side”, informed the railway minister in the Rajya Sabha recently in a written reply to amember.

    The minister further added that a lump sum amount of Rs 28,441.65 crore out of an initial sanctioned budget of Rs 1,08,000 crore has already been utilized on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed rail(MAHSR) project as on June 30 in 2022.

    In total, the MAHSR project requires around 1396 hectares of land between Mumbai via Dadra and Nagar haveli UT. Actually, the MAHSR project was launched with a deadline to completion by 2023 but its now delayed by five years due to delays in land acquisition in Maharashtra.

    NEW DELHI: After years of stalemate, the works on India’s first high-speed bullet train project in Maharashtra side has got momentum with all required clearances obtained from the BJP-allied state government. Earlier, the project that started at an estimated budget of Rs 1, 08,000 crores in 2015, was allegedly delayed due to the previous government’s ‘stalling tactics’ on Maharashtra side.

    Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, a day ago after the site inspection in Mumbai, said that all the tenders for civil construction work have been floated for Maharashtra side after obtaining all clearances from the state government.

    “The work has got momentum in Maharashtra side on this project. I would like to thank the new government of Maharashtra for having given the railways all clearances”, the railway minister told the media, hoping that the country will see the first set of bullet train running by 2026 between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat.

    According to official sources, the railway needs around 433.82 hectares of land for developing tracks and other associated infrastructure for the 506.17km long Mumbai- Ahmadabad bullet train are required in the territory of Maharashtra. “Out of a total 433.83 hectares of land, 313 hectares of land have been
    acquired for the project now. In the same way, out of 954.3 hectares of land, 942.9 hector of land in Gujarat side -which 98.90% of total required land, have already been acquired and works progress in advance in Gujarat side”, informed the railway minister in the Rajya Sabha recently in a written reply to a
    member.

    The minister further added that a lump sum amount of Rs 28,441.65 crore out of an initial sanctioned budget of Rs 1,08,000 crore has already been utilized on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed rail(MAHSR) project as on June 30 in 2022.

    In total, the MAHSR project requires around 1396 hectares of land between Mumbai via Dadra and Nagar haveli UT. Actually, the MAHSR project was launched with a deadline to completion by 2023 but its now delayed by five years due to delays in land acquisition in Maharashtra.

  • Second part of the Budget session 2022 resumes on Monday

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: The second part of the Budget session will resume on Monday and will last until April 8, 2022.

    The House will sit from 11 am till 6 pm during the scheduled 19 sittings whereas it sat from 10 am till 3 pm during the first part of the Budget session due to Covid-19 protocols during the first part of the Budget session.

    The Rajya Sabha is likely to get over 64 hours to transact the legislative business besides taking up the issues of public importance during this part of the session.

    The second part of the Budget session is resuming after a 30-day recess and during this the ‘Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees (DRSCs)’ examined the Demands for Grants of various Ministries and Departments.

    The Upper House will have four days for Private Member’s Business and the hour long ‘Zero Hour’ and ‘Question Hour’ to continue as usual. During the last session, the ‘Question Hour’ was reduced to half an hour because of the reduced timing of the sitting.

    Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu is likely to give an account of the working during this recess of the DRSCs of Rajya Sabha in the House on Monday.

    External Affair Minister S. Jaishankar is likely to make a statement in the Upper House on the evacuation of the Indian nationals from war torn country Ukraine under Operation Ganga.

    During the last session, the duration of the question hour was reduced to half an hour because of the reduced time of the sitting, now this will be of one hour along while the Zero Hour will be of usual one hour at the beginning of the sitting.

    Four days have been allotted for the Private Member’s Business on each Friday barring 18 March which is holiday on account of the festival.

    The first part of this budget session was concluded on February 11, 2022 with 10 sittings and the productivity of the House was 101.40 per cent.

  • Make in India is need of the hour: Prime Minister Modi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Make in India is the need of the hour and appealed to the industry to reduce dependence on imports and boost domestic manufacturing.

    He urged the industry to make efforts to cut imports of goods that can be manufactured in India.

    “Today, the world is looking at India as a manufacturing powerhouse,” Modi said while addressing DPIIT’s webinar on ‘Make in India for the World’.

    The Prime Minister said that announcements in the Budget for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India are important for the industry and Indian economy.

    The Make in India campaign is the need of 21st century India, and it gives an opportunity to show our potential, Modi said, adding that “we should work with full force to build a robust manufacturing base”.

    Make in India is the need of the hour in sectors such as electric vehicles, speciality steel, and medical equipment, the Prime Minister said, adding the opening up of coal, mining and defence sectors have opened up huge opportunities for industries.

    The industry should talk about ‘vocal for local’ and ‘Make in India’ in their product advertising.

    India has huge young talent and skilled manpower, and this can be used to promote Make in India, Modi said.

  • India strongly poised to implement framework of ‘Total Health and One Health’: Mandaviya 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India is strongly poised to implement the framework of “Total Health and One Health” through its focussed, integrative and holistic policies, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday.

    In his valedictory address at the post-Union Budget webinar of the Ministry of Health, Mandaviya said telemedicine and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will rightly propel India towards a revolution in the healthcare sector.

    Today, India is the leading country in the world to have created more than 17 crore health IDs, the highest number globally, he stated.

    Teleconsultation is a revolution and it is providing expert healthcare services even in the remotest of the areas, the minister said. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for holistic healthcare has guided the integration of various healthcare platforms.

    “Today’s brainstorming sessions with all stakeholders will help to create a well-defined blueprint for timely action for citizen-centric policies and output-based programmes,” Mandaviya said.

    ALSO READ | India needs to remain vigilant as neighbouring countries not polio-free: Mandaviya 

    The consultation with private companies and non-government organisations, including experts and health sector stakeholders, through deep discussions, is a step in enriching the policies, initiatives and actions of the ministry, he added.

    “India is strongly poised to implement the framework of ‘Total Health and One Health’ through its focussed, integrative and holistic policies,” Mandaviya said. Ayurveda and mental health form a vital part of “total health” and should be extended through telemedicine services, he added.

    With the new approach to early Union Budget presentation, funds allocation and programme implementation can now be started in a much timely manner, leading to a timely spending of the allocated funds, he stressed.

    ALSO READ | Union Cabinet approves nationwide roll-out of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission 

    Reforms in a timely manner have ensured that India is not left behind on the global platform, the minister said, adding that “our strategic policies of vaccine research and manufacturing are in sync with the emerging developments globally”.

    Highlighting the role of technology and research and development, Mandaviya said India is now at par with the global leaders in vaccine research due to its focus on indigenisation.

  • Rajasthan budget development-oriented, gives relief to common man: Pilot

    The proposal of the Congress government to form a corporation for the project is a commendable step, he said.

  • Cuts in social welfare schemes, no steps to address inflation or job creation: Shashi Tharoor slams Budget

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Attacking the Centre over Budget 2022-23, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday said there were significant cuts in allocation of social welfare schemes, no measures to address rising inflation and nil targeted effort for job creation.

    Initiating the discussion on the Budget in Lok Sabha, Tharoor said COVID-19 pandemic has placed citizens in unimaginable distress who suffered a lot of pain due to loss of lives between March and May last year.

    In this context, he said, the presentation of the budget cannot merely be seen as a purely routine economic exercise or state forward accounting, adding that the budget is an instrument through which the government presents a political vision to manage the economy, heal the country and set it on the path to recovery.

    “The budget has given a significant slashing in MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme, more tokenism in credit support for MSME sector, no changes in personal income tax regime and no relief in terms of addressing rising inflation as well as nil targeted efforts for job creation,” he said.

    The Budget has proposed creation of “inadequate” 60 lakh jobs in five years, which is “a far cry from the 2 crore jobs the government had promised in the equally illusory “acche din” (good days), Tharoor said.

    He added that there are reductions in budgets for social welfare schemes and significant cuts in schemes for crop insurance, MSP (minimum support price) and fertliser, which has left many farmer groups to term this Budget as a “revenge budget”.

    The Congress leader also claimed a huge dip in the incomes of lakhs of people in the last five years.

    While the wealth of richest 100 Indians soared by Rs 57 lakh crore, 4.7 crore Indians slipped into extreme poverty, he said, adding that the government has not recognised the problems which they have caused and the widespread anguish they have inflicted on “aam aadmi” (common man).

    People, he said, were expecting that the government will acknowledge the problem that the nation is facing, “acknowledge the fact that the nation is facing unprecedented levels of unemployment which has left countless citizens, specially our youth and dynamic working group population, with little prospects of brighter tomorrow”.

  • Taking cue from Budget, MP government to carry out organic farming along Narmada river

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Taking a cue from the Union budget proposal of staring chemical-free farming along the Ganga, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to carry out organic farming along the Narmada river, which is considered as the lifeline of the state, an official said on Thursday.

    The decision was taken at a meeting of ministers and top bureaucrats chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday, he said.

    “A special campaign should be launched to develop natural farming on a 5-km stretch on both sides of Narmada river,” the chief minister said in the meeting.

    Chouhan also urged ministers who farm to switch to organic farming on their land, the official said.

    The state government’s decision has come a day after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech said that chemical-free farming will be promoted throughout the country, starting with fields within a 5-km wide corridor along the Ganga.

    Narmada, the fifth longest river in the country, originates from Amarkantak in Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh and traverses 1,077 km of the state.

  • Diesel to cost Rs 2 more from Oct 1, North East to see petrol price go up

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Diesel in most parts of the country may cost Rs 2 per litre more from October 1 while petrol in a few places such as North East may see a price hike after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman levied additional excise duty on fuel sold without blending it with ethanol or biodiesel.

    Presently, 10 per cent ethanol, extracted from sugarcane or surplus foodgrain, is blended or mixed in petrol (meaning 10 per cent of ethanol mixed with 90 per cent of petrol) with a view to cutting oil import dependence and provide farmers with an additional source of income.

    Ethanol-blended petrol is supplied in 75-80 per cent of the country as availability of ethanol and logistics hamper supply in remaining areas.

    On the other hand, there is only an experimental blending of biodiesel, extracted from non-edible oilseeds, in diesel – the most used fuel in the country.

    “Blending of fuel is a priority of this Government. To encourage the efforts for blending of fuel, unblended fuel shall attract an additional differential excise duty of Rs 2 per litre from the 1st day of October 2022,” Sitharaman said in her Budget speech in the Lok Sabha.

    While the additional duty will push oil companies to procure more ethanol for mixing in petrol and arrange for logistics for transporting to deficient areas, it is unlikely that the country will be able to build infrastructure to manufacture biodiesel to the scale needed for blending in diesel in next 8 months, industry officials said.

    At a post-Budget press conference, Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj said the blended fuel has been discussed with the petroleum ministry.

    “We have also collected data on what is not being blended and this is something to push the petroleum companies to ensure that they do the blending. Our desire is not to collect the tax because it would be very minimal. The desire is the blending happens and to an extent, it benefits the country,” he said.

    The budget proposal would mean that areas that do not have a supply of blended fuel will see higher rates than the areas where the blended fuel is sold.

    Presently, parts of North East and Jammu & Kashmir and some far-flung areas in the South as well as in Rajasthan do not have a supply of ethanol-blended petrol.

    Industry officials said it was possible to raise the supply of ethanol-blended petrol in Rajasthan and unserviced parts of the South but the supply to North East will be constrained Diesel on the other hand is largely sold without any blending in the country.

    ALSO READ: Karnataka to have ethanol policy: Minister Munenakoppa

    “In order to promote the blending of Motor Spirit (commonly known as Petrol) with ethanol/methanol and blending of High-Speed Diesel with biodiesel, an additional basic excise duty of Rs 2 per litre on petrol and diesel, intended to be sold to retail consumers without blending, would be levied with effect from the 1st day of October 2022,” the memorandum explaining the provisions of the Finance Bill said.

    Last year, the government brought forward the target to achieve 20 per cent ethanol-blending with petrol to 2025, five years ahead of its previous target, to help reduce its dependence on costly oil imports.

    10 per cent ethanol blending is to be achieved in 2022. India is the world’s third-biggest oil importer, relying on foreign suppliers to meet more than 85 per cent of its oil demand.

    Officials said currently the average ethanol blending is 8.5 per cent. A 10 per cent blend would require 4 billion litres of ethanol by 2021-2022 sugar year (November 2021 to October 2022).

    To achieve 20 per cent blending by 2025, and to meet the requirement of the chemical and other sectors, about 12 billion litres of alcohol/ethanol would be required. The sugar industry will divert 6 million tonne of surplus sugar to produce 7 billion litres of the ethanol needed while the other 5 billion litres of ethanol will be produced from excess grain.

    Last year, the government had also allowed the mixing of ethanol extracted from surplus grains. Elsewhere in the Budget, a provision of Rs 4,000 crore has been made for subsidy on cooking gas.

    This may be inadequate in case international prices of crude oil continue to rise and there is resistance from consumers to further price hikes.

  • Nothing for middle class, poor in Union Budget: Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the government had delivered a “zero-sum budget” that has nothing for the middle class, farmers and the poor, drawing a derisive response from Union ministers who suggested that the opposition leader had not understood the “futuristic” measures.

    As the two sides exchanged barbs, the opposition party also hit out at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accusing her of insulting the people of Uttar Pradesh with her remarks and demanding that she apologise to them.

    “There is despair all around our country, our youth have no future and once again the Modi govt’s budget completely ignores this painful reality. #Budget2022,” Gandhi said in a post on Instagram.

    “M0di G0vernment’s Zer0 Sum Budget! Nothing for – Salaried class, Middle class, the poor and deprived, Youth, Farmers and MSMEs (sic),” he said on Twitter.

    Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, who is also an MP from Uttar Pradesh, said “probably, Rahul Gandhi did not understand the budget, which is futuristic”.

    Reacting to Chaudhary’s remarks on Rahul Gandhi, Finance Minister Sitharaman said, “I think he (Chaudhary) has given that typical UP-type of an answer which is good enough for an MP who ran away from UP.”

    “I wish as the leader of the oldest political party, Rahul Gandhi should understand what is being said,” the finance minister said, adding that he should do something in the Congress-ruled states first before commenting on the BJP government.

    Union Minister Piyush Goyal also hit out at Rahul Gandhi saying he has a negative attitude towards everything this government does. “Rahul Gandhi has a problem with mathematics, he will look at everything which has a sum of zero,” Goyal said.

    M0di G0vernment’s Zer0 Sum Budget!Nothing for- Salaried class- Middle class- The poor & deprived- Youth- Farmers- MSMEs
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 1, 2022
    Later reacting to Sitharaman’s remarks, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Twitter, “You did not put anything for UP in the bag of Budget. but what was the need to insult people of UP in this manner?” “Understand, the people of UP are proud to be ‘UP-type’. We are proud of the language, dialect, culture and history of UP,” the Congress general secretary in-charge UP said in a tweet in Hindi, using the hashtag “UP Mera Abhiman (UP my pride)”.

    ..@nsitharaman जी आपने यूपी के लिए बजट के झोले में कुछ डाला नहीं, ठीक है…लेकिन यू पी के लोगों का इस तरह अपमान करने की क्या ज़रूरत थी?समझ लीजिए, यूपी के लोगों को “यूपी टाइप” होने पर गर्व है। हमको यूपी की भाषा, बोली, संस्कृति व इतिहास पर गर्व है। #यूपी_मेरा_अभिमान
    — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 1, 2022
    Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused the finance minister of insulting the people of Uttar Pradesh with her “UP-type” remark that made light of them.

    “Nirmala Sitharaman has insulted the 25 crore people of Uttar Pradesh and made fun of them with her ‘typical UP-type’ comment. This is a big insult to the 25 crore people of Uttar Pradesh. Modi ji and Nirmala Sitharaman should immediately apologise to the people of Uttar Pradesh,” Surjewala told reporters.