Kerla PSC Secretariat Assistant Exam- Current Affairs
Important Highlights of Union Budget 2014-2015:
* 5 IIMs to be opened in HP, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan
* 5 more IITs in Jammu, Chattisgarh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
* 4 more AIIMS Hospitals.
* ‘Digital India to ensure broad band connectivity at village level
* Kisan TV for farmers, Arun Prabha TV for northeast.
* Govt proposes Ultra Modern Super Critical Coal Based Thermal Power Technology
* A project on the river Ganga called ‘Jal Marg Vikas’ for inland waterways between Allahabad and Haldia; Rs 4,200 crore set aside for the purpose.
* EPFO to launch the “Uniform Account Number” Service for contributing members. One Account No For All.
* New programme “Neeranchal” to give impetus to watershed development in the country with an initial outlay of Rs. 2142 crores.
* Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana for girl child education.
* Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to cover every household with sanitation facility by the year 2019
Tax Policy and Monetary:-
Fiscal deficit target retained at 4.1% of GDP for current fiscal and 3.6 for 2015-16 and 3% for 2016-17.
Revenue Deficit seen at 2.9% for FY15
Aim to achieve 7-8 per cent economic growth rate in next 3-4 years: FM
Committed for growth of agriculture at the rate of 4 per cent.
Defence FDI cap raised to 49% from 26% at present.
Exemption limit on income tax from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 2.5 lakh.
For senior citizens, the exemption on income has been raised to Rs. 3 lakh per annum.
Tax-free cap on home loan interest from Rs. 1.5 to Rs. 2 lakh.
No change in Income tax rates and slabs .
Annual PPF ceiling to be enhanced to Rs 1.5 lakh, from Rs 1 lakh
Minimum pension increased to Rs 1,000 per month
Amount Allocated To Various Schemes:-
* Rs 100 crore to support about 600 new and existing Community Radio Stations.
* Rs 100 crore for metro projects in Lucknow and Ahmedabad
* Rs 2,037 crore set aside for Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission called ‘Namami Gange’
* Rs 150 crore allocated for increasing safety of women in large cities
* Rs. 7,060 crore for the project of developing 100 Smart Cities.
* Set aside Rs 11,200 crore for PSU banks capitalisation
* Govt provides Rs 500 crore for rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri migrants
* 1000 crore provided for “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna” for assured irrigation.
* Rs. 50,548 crore under the SC Plan and Rs. 32,387 crore under TSP
