Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

HIGHLIGHTS - Union budget presented to parliament

Mon Jul 6, 2009 12:52pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The finance minister on Monday outlined plans to speed infrastructure development and unveiled increased spending for farmers and the poor in the first budget since the Congress-led government was re-elected convincingly in May.

Following are the highlights from the budget speech:

* "The first challenge is to return the GDP growth rate of 9 percent per annum at the earliest."

* "The second challenge is to deepen and broaden the agenda for inclusive development."

* "There are signs of revival in domestic industry and foreign investors have also returned to Indian markets in the last couple of months."

* "It is possible that the two worst quarters since the global financial meltdown in September 2008 are behind us."

* "While the global financial condition has shown improvement over the recent month, uncertainty relating to the revival of the global economy remains. We cannot, therefore, afford to drop our guard.

* "We have to continue our efforts to provide further stimulus to the economy."

* 2008/09 GDP growth seen at 6.7 pct  Continued...

  Smoke and fire billows out of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai November 27, 2008.   REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw
One Year Later

A look back at the events of 26/11 ahead of the first anniversary of the militant attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people.  Slideshow | Full Coverage 

Photo

Thierry Henry's handball scandal

Barcelona's Thierry Henry takes part in a training session at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona, November 23, 2009. Barcelona and Inter Milan will play their soccer Champions League match on Tuesday. REUTERS/Albert Gea
FIFA to hold meeting

FIFA to hold an extraordinary meeting before World Cup draw to discuss Thierry Henry's handball in the qualifiers and discovery of match-fixing ring by German police.  Full Article