Highlights of Union Budget of 2012-13

Highlights of Union Budget of 2012-13 are as under for your quick reference:-



• Income up to 2 lakhs - Nil
-- Rs. 2-5 lakhs - - 10 per cent
-- Rs. 5 lakhs -10 lakhs - 20 per cent
-- Rs. 10 lakhs and above - 30 per cent
• GST will be operational by August 2012
• Excise duty hiked from 10 per cent to 12 per cent
• Service Tax hiked from 10 per cent to 12 per cent
• Basis Exemption Limit 2 Lakhs
 • STT cut to 0.1%.
• No change in corporate tax,DTC Deferred Further
• Global crude oil prices have crossed $115 per barrel
• Food and fertiliser subsidy largest expenditure.
• Fiscal deficit rose due to subsidy.
• Decided to fully provide for food subsidy in the budget
• FRBM implementation back on track
• Aadhar-enabled payment of select government schemes in 50 districts
• Rs 30,000 cr divestment target in FY 13
• To bring down subsidy to 1.7 % of GDP in the next 3 years
• To roll out computerized scheme for fertilizer subsidy transfer
• The Nandan Nilekani panel recommendation on direct transfer of subsidy accepted
• FY13 subsidy to be under 2% of GDP
• Find ways to expedite implementation of decision, prompt delivery and good governance with transparency, while curbing black money and corruption
• Remove bottlenecks in agriculture, energy, transport, coal, power and national highways
• Ensure rapid rise in private investment
• Frame policies that trigger domestic demand recovery
• Direct cash subsity to LPG, Kerosene
• Efforts to arrive at broadbased consensus with state governments on allowing FDI in multibrand retail up to 51 per cent
• Direct transfer of subsidy for kerosene initiated
• Direct Tax Code (DTC) Bill to be enacted at the earliest
• To introduce Rajiv Gandhi [ Images ] Equity Scheme for retail investors
• Tax incentive for new investors, These make sense when you consider that the share of household savings delpoyed in capital markets has come down sharply.
• Changes in IPO norms to increase participation in small towns
• Plan outlay for agriculture raised by 18% to Rs 20208 crore in FY 13
• Rs 300 crore for intensified irrigation program
• Retail stocks rally as Budget commits to multi-brand FDI
• Telecom towers made eligible for viability gap funding
• Agriculture credit target raised to Rs 5.75 lakh crore in FY13
• Agriculture allocation increased to Rs 5,75,000 crore.
• To allocate Rs 10,000 cr for NABARD to refinance RRBs.
• To allocate Rs 10,000 crore for NABARD for refinancing RRBs
• Government to set up Rs 5,000 crore venture fund for MSME sector
• To allow ECB borrowing to part-finance power projects.
• Agriculture credit target to be raised by Rs 1,00,000 crore to Rs 5,75,000 crore.
• Kisan credit cards can now be used for ATM machines.
• Change in IPO guidelines to promote small town participation
• Will allow external commercial borrowing for power, housing road construction companies
• To make 8,800 km of highways in FY13; outlay raised
• Plan outlay raised 18% to Rs 20,208 cr for agriculture
• Irrigation, dams to be eligible for special funding
• Telecom towers made eligible for viability gap funding
• Fuel supply constraints have hit power supplies nationally
• Current account deficit 3.6 percent in 2011-12; this put pressure on exchange rate.
• Advance Pricing Agreements in DTC to be in Finance Bill
• Corporate market reforms to be initiated.
• Allocation for national highways up 14 per cent. 8,800 km of highways to be developed under National Highway Development Project in 2012-13.
• Encourage small and medium artisans. Powerloom mega clusters to be set up.
• Foreign loans for low-cost housing projects.
• Foreign loan cap raised for airlines.
• To allow ECB funding to finance working capital needs of airlines for 1 year
• External commercial borrowings to the extent of $ 1 billion to be allowed for aviation sector for next year.
• Addressing malnutrition, black money and corruption in public life among five priorities in the year ahead.
• Budget to provide Rs 15,888 crore for recapitalisation of PSU banks, regional rural banks.
• Government examining new ways of providing subsidies for LPG, kerosene.
• Tax exemption on individual share investment below Rs 10 lakh.
• Govt to create Financial Holding company to meet financial needs of PSU banks.
• Income Tax deduction of 50 per cent on investments of up to Rs 50,000 in savings scheme named after Rajiv Gandhi.
• 3-year lock-in period exemption under Rajiv Gandhi scheme.
• Increase in investments in infrastructure through PPP.
• Coal India advised to sign FSA with power plants
• Infrastructure investment in 12th Plan to go up to Rs 50 lakh crore; half of it to come from private sector.
• To allow qualified FII into domestic corporate bonds
• Rs 15890 crore for recapitalisation of PSU banks
• Extend RRB capitalisation for 2 years
• Propose Central KYC depository
• Full exemption from basic customs duty for equipment for road and highway construction
• Full exemption from basic customs duty on natural gas, LNG, uranium for generation of electricity for two years.
• Customs duty on import of parts of aircraft, tyres and testing equipment fully exempted
• Excise duty on handmade and semi-mechanised matches reduced from 10 to 6 per cent
• Increase excise duty on some cigarettes
• Solar energy plants exempted from Customs Duty
• Excise duty on all processed food brought down to merit rate of 6 per cent courtesy



By: Jalsingh Sumedha