Union Budget 2017

Parliament heralds new era, completes Budget exercise before 31 March

Scrapping a colonial-era tradition of presenting the Budget at the end of February, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for the first time in the history of independent India has presented the annual accounts on 1 February.

Cash transactions proposed to be capped at Rs 2 lakh

Earlier, while presenting the Budget on February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had proposed the cap to be Rs 3 lakh with effect from April 1.

Oil producer ONGC may acquire HPCL in $6.6 billion deal

"The government is looking at creating an integrated oil company and the idea is to merge an oil producer with a refiner," a top source said.

Rs 7,76,916 cr tax hole in govt’s books: Who is at fault — taxman or taxpayer?

The widening gap in the unrealised tax revenue numbers should be a wake-up call for the government to urgently bring about mechanisms to engage with the taxpayer, resolve the disputes and encourage them pay their dues to the state

If you buy jewellery over Rs 2 lakh in cash, you will have to pay 1% tax at source

With this move, the TCS threshold for jewellery will be brought at par with that of bullion from April 1.

Incentivise private sector health care in Budget for greater penetration in the country

The government must consider incentivising various health services and initiatives in the private sector so that we can plough back money and invest in more resources and infrastructure

Water management: Revival of farm sector, improving public health and rural economy key

The wastewater sector and wetlands protection were two missed opportunities in Budget 2017.

How can this Budget give a fillip to states' spending on social sectors?

The role of states is important with regard to infrastructure, agriculture and social development, so the Union Government should take a strong stance in favour of social sectors and step up its level of spending for these sectors in the coming years

Opposition will 'boycott' PM Modi over raincoat jibe, says Congress leader Anand Sharma

In a press conference of the Congress party on Thursday, party leader former Union Cabinet Minister in charge of Commerce and Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma said they are preparing to attack the Central government over the recently presented Union Budget in the March session of the Parliament.

Parliament LIVE: Rajya Sabha adjourned as Opposition demands apology from Narendra Modi

The Budget Session will probably not be smooth for the Narendra Modi government.