FM presents Union Budget 2018; focus on rural economy

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley delivered his Budget 2018 speech on Thursday, with the government focusing on the agricultural sector and farmers’ income. In his speech, Jaitley said Budget 2018 will focus on agriculture and rural economy, health, infra, senior citizens. He said structural reforms will help the Indian economy become the fifth largest in the world very soon.

Union Budget 2018- Personal Income Tax remains unchanged

• Rs 50,000 additional benefit to senior citizens for investment in mediclaim.
• Government has made many positive changes in the personal income tax rates applicable to individuals in the last three years therefore I do not wish to make any changes to this: Arun Jaitley.
• 100% tax deduction for the first five years to companies registered as farmer producer companies with a turnover of Rs. 100 crore and above.
• After improvement in ease of doing business, finance minister says the focus is now on “ease of living”.
• 5 lakh WiFi hotspots to be set up in rural areas to provide easy Internet access.
• 1 lakh Gram Panchayats connected to optic fibre completed.