Lok Sabha passes Interim Budget for 2019-20 amid uproar
February 11, 2019  19:56
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Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that the Interim Budget for 2019-20 is aimed at overall development of the country so that each citizen can benefit.

Replying to a general discussion in the Lok Sabha, which passed the Interim Budget amid uproar and walk-out by Left and Congress, Goyal said: "The Budget provides for a substantial benefit to small and marginal farmers."

"Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, 12 crore farmers with less than two hectares of land holding will get Rs 6,000 per year. The amount in three installments will go directly into their bank accounts," he said amidst continuous slogan shouting by some opposition members.

Goyal said the scheme will be effective from December 1, 2018, and cost Rs 75,000 crore.

On the other hand, he said, the United Progressive Alliance government had waived off Rs 52,000 crore for farmers in a span of 10 years.

"The Congress-led UPA committed a breach of trust with the people of India. They did nothing for the poor," said Goyal, adding that there is no accounting jugglery in the Budget for 2019-20 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The overall expenditures in the Budget are at Rs 27.84 lakh crore, 13 per cent larger than the last years figure.

The expenditure for defence has been increased to Rs 3.05 lakh crore from Rs 2.85 lakh crore in 2018-19.Individual taxpayers having taxable annual income up to Rs 5 lakh will get full tax rebate.

All the applicable income tax rates have also kept unchanged.

Further, individuals having an annual income of Rs 6.5 lakh can also save income taxes, provided they invest a sum of up to Rs 1.5 lakh in prescribed savings schemes under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act such as Public Provident Fund (PPF), Equity-Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS), National Saving Certificates (NSC), insurance schemes, and so on.

An individual is also eligible to claim income tax deductions from of up to Rs 2 lakh on interest home loans, education loans, National Pension Scheme (NPS) contributions, medical insurance, medical expenditure on senior citizens.

Goyal also provided to increase the standard deduction by Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 from the present Rs 40,000.

Therefore, going forward, all the salaried persons can claim a standard deduction of Rs 50,000 on their respective taxable income.  -- ANI
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