Month: February 2015

Industry captains hail Budget

Describing Modi government’s first full Budget as a "very balanced" document, industry captains hailed reduction in corporate tax rate, abolition of wealth tax, GST rollout roadmap and extension of time-frame for achieving 3 per cent fiscal deficit target. "The prudent fiscal consolidation with growth bias, tax structure rationalisation, social sector uplift and focus on infra …

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February 28, 2015

Union Budget Highlights

 * Changes in excise on tobacco items, including cigarettes, paan masala and gutkha * Tax exemption for contributions to ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ and ‘Clean Ganga Fund’ by corporates as part of CSR * Increase in limit of deduction in health insurance from Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 * For senior citizens, this limit to be increased from …

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February 28, 2015

Delhi Police alloted 5300 cr

The Delhi Police has been alloted Rs 5372.88 crore for 2015-16 in the Union Budget, an increase of more than Rs 500 crore from last year, aimed at sprucing up traffic infrastructure, induction of latest technology and capacity building of the force. In a bid to strengthen women security in the national capital, fund allocation …

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February 28, 2015

Odisha completely neglected, Union budget disappointing:Naveen

Dubbing the Union Budget as disappointing, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said the state, ravaged by natural calamities, has been completely neglected while special assistance has been declared for Bihar and West Bengal. "As regards Odisha, I am deeply disappointed both with the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission and the Union Budget," Patnaik …

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February 28, 2015

Yoga given special status; its promotion charitable activity

The government has decided to accord special status to Yoga by categorising its promotion as a charitable activity, an announcement which evoked an enthusiastic response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the presentation of the Budget 2015-16 in Parliament today. The activity of Yoga has been one of the focus areas in the present times …

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February 28, 2015

Petrol, diesel prices hiked

Petrol price was today hiked by Rs 3.18 per litre and diesel by Rs 3.09, the second increase in rates this month on rising international oil rates. The increase is effective from midnight tonight. A litre of petrol in Delhi will cost Rs 60.49 from tomorrow as against Rs 57.31 currently while diesel will cost …

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February 28, 2015

Actress Sonam Kapoor down with swine flu

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor has tested positive for swine flu and is being treated at a private hospital here, an official said. "Sonam Kapoor tested positive for swine flu today and she is being treated at Sterling hospital in the city," Rajkot district collector Manisha Chandra said. "She probably contracted swine flu from her physical …

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February 28, 2015

Corporate tax to be brought down to 25% over 4 years

After a gap of 10 years, the government on Saturday announced cut in corporate tax by 5 per cent to 25 per cent over four years starting April 2016, but tax exemptions and incentives to the industry will be withdrawn. Jaitley, in his first full-year budget, said the basic rate of corporate tax in India …

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February 28, 2015

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a biological illness: Study

Researchers have found evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a result of immunological dysfunction, meaning it is a biological illness and not a psychological disorder as commonly thought. People with CFS or systemic exertion intolerance disease experience extreme fatigue and difficulty concentrating due to headaches and muscle pain. "We now have evidence confirming what …

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February 28, 2015

Govt proposes steps to monetise gold, contain imports

To curb gold imports and monetise large idle stocks of the precious metal, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today announced three schemes, including redeemable gold bonds which will carry a fixed rate of interest. The minister proposes to introduce a gold monetisation scheme, which will replace both the present gold deposit and gold metal loan Schemes. …

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February 28, 2015

Mamata not even a member when I floated Trinamool: Mukul

Refusing to read much into his sacking as the party’s national general secretary, sidelined Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Mukul Roy Saturday took a veiled dig at party supremo Mamata Banerjee, saying she was not even a party member when he initiated the process for the Trinamool’s formation. "I am still a member of parliament …

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February 28, 2015

Centre allocates Rs 395 cr assistance to Delhi

NDA government today allocated Rs 395 crore to Delhi government for 2015-16 as central assistance which is 21 per cent increase compared to the current fiscal. The non-plan grant for share in central taxes and duties of Delhi has been proposed at Rs 325 crore for the coming financial year. The normal assistance of Rs …

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February 28, 2015

Jaitley makes fashion statement with Nehru jacket

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday looked dapper in a striking deep blue Nehru jacket as he presented the union budget. Jaitley, 62, wore a soothing light blue shirt which he teamed with the striking deeper blue bandhgala and black pants. The look was smart, suave and well-accessorised with a sleek and chic tan briefcase. Overall, …

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February 28, 2015

Mukul Roy removed as Trinamool general secretary

Trinamool Congress today removed Mukul Roy, a former confidante of Mamata Banerjee, from the key post of party general secretary, a day after he was replaced as the party’s leader in the Rajya Sabha.   In the midst of speculation of his rift with the TMC supremo, Roy, a founder member of the party who …

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February 28, 2015

Case of Kalki’s lost and found ATM card

Actress Kalki Koechlin lost her ATM card but was lucky enough to get it back, courtesy a stranger. The actress took to micro-blogging site Twitter to share her joy over a lady’s good Samaritan act. “Forgot my atm in the machine and a woman got it and made the bank call me immediately. Thank you …

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February 28, 2015

FIR against Digvijay over appointments

An FIR was today filed against Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, former Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Sriniwas Tiwari and 17 others in connection with their appointment to the legislature secretariat during the Congress regime.  Deputy secretary of the state Assembly Shyamlal Maithil filed the FIR at Jehangirabad police station here.   Principal secretary …

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February 28, 2015

‘Govt pro-poor and pro-industry’

Emphasising the need for a balancing act between infrastructure and welfare spending, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the BJP-led government is "pro-poor and pro-industry". The Minister, who presented Budget 2015-16 in Parliament today, said his challenge was to maintain balance between growth and keeping a check on fiscal deficit. "We are concerned about building …

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February 28, 2015