Union Budget 2020-21 Highlights

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February presented the Union Budget for the financial year 2020-21 in the Parliament. Sitharaman said that the three-part theme for Budget 2020 is 1) Aspirational India 2) Economic development for all and 3)Caring society.

Key Highlights of Budget 2020

• Central government's debt has come down to 48.7 percent in March 2019 from 52.2 percent in March 2014
• Fiscal deficit revised from 3.3% to 3.8% of GDP
• FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) of $284 billion received in 2014-2019
• Expenditure estimate for FY 2019-20 revised to Rs 26.99 lakh crore
• Revised receipts for FY21 at Rs 19.32 lakh crore.
• Divestment target set at Rs 2.1 lakh crore for 2020-21
• 16 action points proposed to double farmers' income by 2022
• A scheme for the manufacturing of cell phones, semiconductors, and other electronic devices was proposed

Income Tax Rates for FY 2020-21

• 10% tax on Rs 5 lakh-7.5 lakh income as against prevailing 20%
• 15% tax on Rs 7.5 lakh-10 lakh income against current 20%
• 20% tax Rs 10-12.5 lakh from against 30 percent at present 25% tax on Rs 12.5 lakh-15 lakh income reduced from 30% for FY20
• 30% tax on Rs 15 lakh plus income

Banking and Finance

• Deposit insurance for depositors has increased to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh
• Eligibility limit for NBFCs for debt recovery under SARFAESI Act proposed to be reduced to asset size of Rs 100 crore or loan size of Rs 50 Lakh
• Proposal to sell balance holding of government in IDBI Bank Proposal to sell balance holding of government in IDBI Bank
• Separation of NPS Trust for government employees from PFRDAI

Markets

• Government to list Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on the stock exchanges
• Dividend Distribution Tax removed
• A debt ETF consisting of government securities will be launched
• Specified categories of government securities would be opened for non-resident investors
• FPI Limit for corporate bonds to be increased to 15 per cent.

Fund Allocations/Targets for 2020-21

• Rs 2.83 lakh crore spending proposed for agri and rural development
• Agri credit target set at Rs 15 lakh crore
• Rs 1.7 lakh crore for transport infrastructure
• Rs 27,300 crore for development of industry and commerce
• Rs 3,000 crore allocated for Skill Development
• Health Sector will be allocated Rs 69,000 crore
• Swachh Bharat Mission allocation reduced to Rs 12,300 crore for 2020-21
• Schemes for Scheduled tribes at Rs 53,700 crore
• Schemes for Scheduled caste, OBCs at Rs 85,000 crore
• Rs 3.6 lakh crore approved for Jal Jeevan Scheme
• Rs 4,400 crore for climate change plans
• Rs 99,300 crore for the education sector
• Rs 2,500 crore for Tourism
• Senior citizens and Divyang citizens welfare allotted Rs 9,500 crore
• Rs 3,150 crore for Culture
• Rs 6,000 crore for BharatNet
• Rs 28,600 crore for women
• Power and renewable energy to receive Rs 22,000 crore
• Rs 1,480 crore towards National Technical Textiles Mission

Railways, Road and Civil Aviation

• 150 trains to be run in PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model
• More Tejas type trains for tourist destinations
• 4 railway stations to be redeveloped with the help of private sector
• Rs 18,600 crores towards Bengaluru Suburban Transportation projects
• Delhi-Mumbai expressway to be completed by 2023
• Indian Railways to set up "Kisan Rail" to support cold supply chain via PPP model
• "Krishi Udaan" to be set up by Ministry of Civil Aviation for cold supplychain
• 100 more airports to be developed under UDAAN.

Agriculture and Rural Development

• PM KUSUM to cover 20 lakh farmers for stand alone solar pumps and further 15 lakh for grid-connected pumps.
• Viability gap funding for the creation of efficient warehouses on PPP mode.
• SHGs (self-help groups) run Village storage scheme to be launched.
• Integration of e-NWR with e-NAM.
• Elimination of FMD and brucellosis in cattle and PPR in sheep and goat by 2025
• Increasing coverage of artificial insemination to 70 percent.
• Doubling of milk processing capacity by 2025.
• Agricultural credit target of Rs 15 lakh crore for 2020-21.
• Fish Production target of 200 lakh tonnes by 2022-23
• Another 45,000 acres of aqua culture to be supported.
• Fishery extension through 3477 Sagar Mitras and 500 fish FPOs.
• Raise fishery exports to Rs 1 lakh crore by 2024-25.