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Tag: General Budget

General Budget Slashes Union Minister’s Travel Expenses-54%

[New Delhi] General Budget Cuts 54% Minister’s Travel Expenses
The travel and other expenses of Union Ministers have been slashed by a whopping 54 per cent in the 2016-17 budget presented today.
According to the budget estimates, the amount allocated under the head of ‘Tour Expenses’ has been fixed at Rs 259 crore.
The expenditure under this head, which covers salaries, sumptuary and other allowances and travel of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and ex-Prime Ministers, was pegged at Rs 269 crore for 2015-16.
However, the budgetary expenses under this head, which also covers maintenance of VVIP aircraft, was revised later to Rs 566.66 crore.
This year, the government has introduced Rs 4.35 crore under the head of ‘Hospitality and Entertainment’ under which expenditure on government hospitality and entertainment of foreign state guests and official entertainment arranged at Rashtrapati Bhawan on behalf of the Vice President and the Prime Minister.
It also includes reception on national days, investiture ceremonies and presentation of credentials.

External Affairs Budget Scissored 2.5% to Rs 14,662 Crore

[New Delhi] External Affairs Budget Scissored 2.5% to Rs 14,662 Crore
The External Affairs Ministry was allocated Rs 14,662 crore in the Union Budget, a cut of Rs 378 crore compared to last year
Out of the total allocation, Rs 4,720 crore has been given to the Ministry under plan outlay, while Rs 9,942.66 crore has been set aside as non-plan expenditure.
As per revised estimate, Rs 15041.08 crore was given to the Ministry in 2015-16 and the total allocation made for next fiscal is 2.5 per cent less than the last year’s amount.
Rs 7,570.62 crore has been allocated for international aid programmes out of which Rs 5,490 crore has been earmarked for Bhutan, Rs 520 crore for Afghanistan and Rs 400 crore for Myanmar. Assistance to Maldives stands at Rs 40 crore.
Out of the total international assistance, Rs 4510 crore will be plan expenditure and Rs 3,060.62 crore non-plan expenditure.
An amount of Rs 300 crore has been kept for Nepal, Rs 230 crore for Sri Lanka, while Rs 290 crore has been allocated for development projects in African countries.
Separately, Rs 2460.58 crore has been earmarked for embassies and missions abroad and Rs 1,870 crore under the head ‘Special Diplomatic Expenditure’. A non-plan expenditure of Rs 730.04 crore has been given for passport and emigration services.
Another Rs 337.20 crore has been set aside under the head ‘Support to International Training/Programmes’. The government has also announced an assistance of Rs 200 crore for Nalanda university.

Hard Days For Train Commuters From 1st June

[New Delhi] Hard Days For Train Commuters From 1st June
Fares for first class and AC class in passenger trains besides freight charges will be increased by 0.5 per cent from June 1 as new service tax will come into effect.
“Currently, 3.708 % service tax is levied on train fares for AC Class, First Class and freight. This will go up to 4.2 % from June which means the rise is only 0.5 %,”
While the increase in passenger fare is applicable on AC and First Class only, service tax will be levied on all goods transported by Railways.
The official claimed this hike a marginal hike and it is being done as per the General Budget proposals