Union Budget 2023-24: Big announcements

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made several announcements in the Union Budget 2023-2024 on Wednesday.

Some highlights of the Budget:

• Railways get Rs 2.4 lakh crore, which is the highest ever allocation to it.

• Agricultural credit target increased to Rs 20 lakh crore.

• Mobility Infra -- 50 additional airports, heliports.

• 50 destinations to be selected through challenge mode for tourism.

• Mahila Samman Savings Certificate will be made available for two years, deposits of up to Rs 2 lakh at 7.5 per cent interest.

• Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme deposit limit raised to Rs 30 lakh from Rs 15 lakh.

• Income tax rebate limit increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh under new tax regime.

• Allocation for PM Awas Yojna increased by 66 per cent to over Rs 79,000 crore.

• Capital investment outlay to be raised by 33 per cent to Rs 10 lakh crore, which will be 3.3 per cent of GDP in fiscal 2024.

• Effective capital expenditure of centre to be - Rs 13.7 lakh crore.

• 157 new nursing colleges in major locations.

• Mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia by 2047.

• Tribals to get Rs 15,000 crore over next three years for safe housing, sanitation, drinking water, and electricity .

• Manhole to machine-hole mode -- All cities and towns will be enabled for 100 per cent transition of sewers and septic tanks .

• Eklavya Model Residential Schools - 38,800 teachers will be hired.

• Goal 'Make AI in India', 'Make AI Work For India' -- three centres for excellence for AI will be set up in top educational institutes.

• Rs 2,516 crore for Computerisation of 63,000 credit societies.

• 100 labs to develop apps using 5g services to be set up in engineering institutions

• Rs 35,000 crore for energy transition to net-zero emission goals

• Green Hydrogen Mission for reduced dependence on fossil fuel

• Battery energy storage systems of 4000 MWh will be supported

• 39,000 compliances reduced for ease of doing business,

• 30 Skill India international centres to be set up

• Natural Farming - one crore farmers will get assistance