INTERIM BUDGET 2014

Updated : Jun 25, 2014

Excise duty concession on auto, consumer goods to continue: FM

The government had cut excise duty on cars, SUVs and two-wheelers as well as consumer durables in the Interim Budget in February to help the industry tide over a demand slump.

Updated : Jun 25, 2014

Interim Budget 2014: India's road network jumped over 7-fold in 10 years, says FM

Pitching for higher allocation for the infrastructure sectors, the finance minister said, there should be more funds for defence, railways, national highways and telecom.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram <em>Photo: Reuters</em>

Updated : Feb 26, 2014

P Chidambaram is leaving behind a difficult task for next FM

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's swan song will haunt his successor. As he highlighted his achievements in controlling the fiscal and current-account deficits during the vote-on-account, he also outlined a rather optimistic vision for 2014/15.

Updated : Feb 21, 2014

Interim Rail Budget: 17 premium, 39 express trains announced

Railway Minister  Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday announced 73 new trains including 17 premium trains, 39 express trains and 10 passenger trains. Here is the list of  premium and express trains that have been proposed in the Interim Railway Budget.

(Picture for representation only) <em>Photo: Reuters</em>

Updated : Feb 19, 2014

Interim Budget 2014: Auto giants welcome FM's decision to reduce excise duty

Auto makers, including General Motors India and Tata Motors, announced price cuts of their products soon after Finance Minister P. Chidambaram decided to reduce excise on automobiles in the interim budget 2014-15.

Updated : Feb 19, 2014

Interim Budget 2014: Chidambaram woos education loan borrowers

Presenting the Interim Budget for 2014-15 in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Chidambaram announced a moratorium period for all education loans taken up to March 31, 2009, and outstandings as of March 31, 2013.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram <em>Photo: AP</em>

Updated : Feb 19, 2014

Interim Budget 2014-15: Key highlights from P Chidambaram's speech

Amid constant interruptions by some members, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presented the interim budget for 2014-15 in the Lok Sabha.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Photo : AP

Updated : Feb 19, 2014

Interim Budget: Here's where Chidambaram saved in 2013-14

Amid  the reams of Budget data lies a seemingly innocuous number, Rs 56,574 crore. It is under the head of non-plan expenditure. This is the amount that was kept aside as investment in International financial institutions for this fiscal year.

Updated : Feb 18, 2014

No Class 8 school boys debate with Modi, says Chidambaram

Chidambaram was asked about Modi's reaction to his Interim Budget on Monday calling it "a final act of misery after a decade of decay."

Updated : Feb 18, 2014

Interim Budget: FM hits out at critics, says govt has pulled back economy

Rejecting description of his interim Budget as populist, Finance minister P  Chidambaram said over the last couple of years, the government was trying to do a "rescue act" like every other government in the world was doing.

Updated : Feb 18, 2014

Tax experts hail cut in excise duty in Interim Budget 2014-15

Chidambaram reduced the excise duty on capital goods from 12 to 10 per cent and on mobile handsets to 6 per cent and in the case of automobile having different duty rate the reduction is by 2-6 per cent.

Chidambaram in his interim budget estimated subsidies at Rs 246,000 crore, up from his last estimate of Rs 231,000 crore.

Updated : Feb 18, 2014

Vote on account a disappointment, says former ONGC Chairman R.S. Sharma

In his vote on account, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram laid emphasis on curtailing subsidies. He estimated subsidies at Rs 246,000 crore, up from his last estimate of Rs 231,000 crore.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram <em>Photo: APp</em>

Updated : Feb 18, 2014

Vote on account 2014: Govt unveils restrained pre-election budget

Finance Minister P Chidambaram unveiled on Monday a restrained mini budget for the government's remaining months in office, saying the budget deficit has narrowed and pledging to keep public spending steady. WATCH: FM's full Interim Budget speech

Updated : Feb 18, 2014

Interim Budget 2014: SBI says Rs 11,200 crore infusion may be too low

State Bank of India (SBI) said the Rs 11,200-crore budgetary allocation for state-run banks' recapitalisation for FY15 may not be sufficient given the systemic credit growth and migration to the capital-intensive Basel-III framework.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Photo : Shekhar Ghosh

Updated : Feb 17, 2014

Chidambaram's poll Budget seeks to please all, with prudence

The finance minister could not change the tax regime vastly, as it required legislative approvals and is generally left for the next government in an election year. WATCH: Chidambaram presents Interim Budget for 2014-15. The direct tax rates were left unaltered. But that did not stop him from indulging in some self-acclamation for meeting key targets while highlighting achievements of his government.

Updated : Feb 17, 2014

Interim Budget: Generating 1 million jobs is a welcome move, say analysts

"Skills development is not only the key to tackling India's unemployment situation but will also help in raising the quality of life of our workforce through improved employment opportunities," says  Moorthy K. Uppaluri, CEO, Randstad India and Sri Lanka Uppaluri.

Updated : Feb 17, 2014

There are no winners in Chidambaram's 'hope' budget

UPA's last budget was more of a match-the-numbers exercise, away from economic realities and riding high on optimism. Though finance minister P Chidambaram has met his fiscal deficit and current account deficit targets, but the math seems forced and unsustainable. WATCH: Chidambaram presents Interim Budget for 2014-15