Budget 2013: Press roundup on expectations

Commandos conduct security checks during the opening day of the second-leg of the monsoon session of the Parliament in New Delhi October 17, 2008.

Govt likely to borrow more in 2013/14 - Business Standard

Market participants expect India, which faces general elections by early 2014, to raise gross borrowing to around 6 trillion rupees in the fiscal year that begins on April 1, up from 5.7 trillion in 2012/13. The higher borrowing could put pressure on bond yields.

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India Inc looks for lower taxes, perception paramount - Moneycontrol.com

The finance minister needs to focus on growth, avoid proposals that create negative perception and note that lower taxes lead to higher collections.

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Tax-free bonds to boost infrastructure investment - Hindustan Times

The government is expected to unveil a wide range of tax-free savings instruments in the annual budget on February 28 to channelise household funds into large infrastructure projects.

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Fin Min asks taxmen for more efforts to meet target - PTI in Telegraph

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday asked custom, excise and service tax officials to step up efforts to achieve the 2012/13 target of 5.05 trillion rupees. Collections in the first eight months to November added up to 2.92 trillion rupees.

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Defence Minister wants more funds for R&D - Indian Express

The government, which decided to cut defence modernisation budget by 100 billion rupees, should raise funding for research and development, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said.

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Note: Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

(Compiled by Manoj Kumar in New Delhi; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)