Budget tax sops to help individuals save Rs 1,000 more a year
Individual tax payers will save only Rs 1,000 more a year following the government raising the tax exemption threshold by Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,60,000, whereas the benefit for senior citizens (65 years and above) will be higher at Rs 1,500. more

Sensex sinks on fiscal deficit concerns
Absence of big-bang reforms in the Union Budget today disappointed the markets, with the BSE Sensex falling by 869.65 points, the biggest on any Budget day and in eight months. more

FM offers sops to middle-clas, poor & farmers; mkt reacts
In a pro-poor, pro-rural budget, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today raised personal income tax exemption by at least Rs 10,000, abolished IT surcharge and Fringe Benefit Tax, while focusing on jobs, cheap food for poor and loans for farmers. more

Rs 2,284 cr for int fencing Rs 430 cr for state police force
The Government today allocated an additional amount of Rs 2,284 crore for the construction of fencing and other infrastructure along the international borders besides sanctioning special hardship allowances to the paramilitary personnel at par with defence forces. more

Borrowing up by nearly 2.5 times, expense on defence goes up
The government will rely heavily on borrowings to finance its various flagship schemes as the target for this head has been increased to 34 paise of every rupee from 14 paise projected in the last Budget. more

Customs duty of 5 per cent being levied on import of set-top boxes
Customs duty of 5 per cent being levied on import of set-top boxes used under Conditional Access System (CAS). more

Presumptive Taxation of 8 per cent on businesses of turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh.
Presumptive Taxation of 8 per cent on businesses of turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh. more

Small businesses up to Rs 40 lakh turnover exempted advance tax returns.
Small businesses up to Rs 40 lakh turnover exempted from filing advance tax returns. more

Budget 2009-10 Highlights
Budget 2009-10 Highlights more

Income tax incentives on education loans expanded to cover vocational studies
Income tax incentives on education loans expanded to cover vocational studies more