Budget 2016: Modi has passed budget exam with flying colours, says Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has passed his general budget examination with “flying colours”. In his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Modi had told students appearing for their final board exams from March 1 that he too will appear for an examination on Monday, alluding to the presentation of the coming fiscal’s budget. [caption id=“attachment_2649098” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] (File photo) Home Minister Rajnath Singh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi[/caption] Terming the 2016-17 Union Budget as “pro-farmer, pro-poor and pro-reform”, the home minister said it outlined the central government’s priorities and the prime minister’s vision. “If the union budget were like annual exams for our prime minister, then I must say he has passed the exams with flying colours,” Rajnath Singh said in an official statement here. “The budget gives the government an opportunity to deepen the economic foundation and widen the infrastructure network of our country.” “Strengthening rural economy and providing income security to the farmers has been given top priority in this year’s budget. Introduction of ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ coupled with the allocation of Rs.20,000 crore to improve irrigation facilities in India will boost the farm sector,” Rajnath Singh said. He said the highest-ever target of Rs 9 lakh crore as agriculture loans to farmers and highest ever allocation of Rs 38,500 crore to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme is bound to benefit rural economy. Increasing the allocation of funds to ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’ to Rs 19,000 crore is a big step to boost rural infrastructure, he added. IANS