#Newschemes of budget 2015-16

ATAL Innovation Mission (AIM) to be Set up

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley has stated his intentions to establish the ATAL Innovation Mission(AIM) in NITI. Presenting the General Budget 2015-16 in the Lok Sabha here today, the Finance Minister stated that AIM will be an Innovation Promotion Platform involving academics, entrepreneurs and researchers and draw upon national and international experiences to foster a culture of innovation, R&D and scientific research in India. Shri Jaitley said that the platform will also promote a network of world-class innovation hubs and Grand Challenges for India. Initially a sum of Rs.150 crore wail be earmarked for this purpose Self Employment and Talent Utilisation (SETU) to be Established Government has announced the setting up of a Self- Employment and Talent Utilisation (SETU) mechanism. Presenting the General Budget 2015-16 in the Lok Sabha here today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley stated that SETU will be a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of start up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas. An amount of Rs.1000 crore is being set up initially in NITI Aayog for SETU. Corporate Tax to be Reduced and GST to be Implemented The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley has said that the Corporate Tax Rate is proposed to be reduced from the current 30% to 25% over the next 4 years. In his Budget Speech in the Lok Sabha here today, Shri Jaitley said this is expected to lead to higher level of investment, higher growth and more jobs. The Minister however said that the reduction has to be accompanied by rationalization and removal of various kinds of exemptions and incentives which is leading to a large number of tax disputes. He pointed out that the effective collection of Corporate Tax today is about 23% National Investment and Infrastructure Fund to be Set up The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley has announced the setting up of a National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). Presenting the General Budget 2015-16 in the Lok Sabha here today, the Finance Minister stated that an annual flow of Rs.20,000 crore will be ensured for the NIIF. This will enable the Trust to raise debt, and in turn, invest as equity, in infrastructure finance companies such as IRFC and NHB. The infrastructure finance companies can then leverage this extra equity, manifold.  Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) to be Set Up A Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) will be set-up which will bring both India’s external borrowings and domestic debt under one roof. Presenting the General Budget 2015-16 in the Lok Sabha here today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley stated that deepening of the Indian Bond market is one vital factor in promoting investment in India. The process of bringing the Indian Bond Market at the same level as India’s world class equity market is proposed to be initiated by setting-up PDMA.  Forwards Markets Commission to be Merged with Sebi The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley has proposed to merge the Forwards Markets Commission with SEBI to strengthen regulation of commodity forward markets and reduce wild speculation. Enabling legislation, amending the Government Securities Act and the RBI Act is proposed in the Finance Bill, 2015. It has also been proposed to amend through the Finance Bill, Section 6 of FEMA to provide that control on capital flows as equity will be exercised by the Government, in consultation with the RBI.  A Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) an Electronic Plateform for Financing of Trade Receivables of MSMES Comprehensive Bankruptcy Code for Ease of Doing Business The Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitely presenting the Union Budget 2015-16, here today said that a significant part of the working capital requirement of a MSME arises due to long receivables realization cycles and we are in the process of establishing an electronic Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) financing of trade receivables of MSMEs, from corporate and other buyers, through multiple financiers. This should improve the liquidity in the MSME sector significantly.  Universal Social Security System for all Specially the Poor and the Under-Privileged: Soon-To-Be-Launched Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana The Atal Pension Yojana Launched   The Prahan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana Announced Scheme to Subsidize the Premiums of Vulnerable Groups Such as Old Age Pensioners, BPL Card-Holders, Small and Marginal Farmers and Others Integrated Education and Livelihood Scheme ‘Nai Manzil’ will be Launched for Minorities             The Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitely presenting the Union Budget 2015-16, here today said that a large proportion of India’s population is without insurance of any kind – health, accidental or life worryingly, as our young population ages, it is also going to be pension-less. Encouraged by the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, the Finance Minister proposed to work towards creating a universal social security system for all Indians, specially the poor and the under-privileged.             Shri Jaitley said that soon Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana will be launched to cover accidental death risk of Rs. 2 lakh for a premium of just Rs. 12 per year. Similarly, we will also launch the Atal Pension Yojana, which will provide a defined pension, depending on the contribution, and its period. To encourage people to join this scheme, the Government will contribute 50% of the beneficiaries’ premium limited to Rs. 1,000 each year, for five years, in the new accounts opened before 31st December, 2015.             The Finance Minister further said that the third Social Security Scheme that is to announce is the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana which covers both natural and accidental death risk of Rs. 2 lakhs. The premium will be Rs. 330 per year, or less than one rupee per day, for the age group 18-50.             Shri Jaitley said that there are unclaimed deposits of about Rs. 3,000 crore in the PPF, and approximately Rs. 6,000 crore in the EPF corpus. The Finance Minister proposed the creation of a Senior Citizen Welfare Fund, in the Finance Bill, for appropriation of these amounts to a corpus which will be used to subsidize the premiums of vulnerable groups such as old age pensioners, BPL card-holders, small and marginal farmers and others. Shri Jaitley informed that a detailed scheme would be issued in March.             The Finance Minister further said that special regard needs to be paid to the population of senior citizens in the country which is now approximately 10.5 crore, out of which over one crore are above the age of 80 years. 70% live in rural areas and a large number are in the BPL category. A sizable percentage of them also suffer from age related disabilities. The Finance Minister proposed a new scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted Living Devices for senior citizens, living below the poverty line.             Shri Jaitley said that in sum, these social security schemes reflect our commitment to utilize the Jan Dhan platform, to ensure that no Indian citizen will have to worry about illness, accidents, or penury in old age. Being sensitive to the needs of the poor, under-privileged and the disadvantaged, my Government also remains committed to the ongoing welfare schemes for the SCs, STs and Women. Despite serious constraints on Union finances, allocations made this year are as follows:                         SC                   Rs. 30,851 crore                         ST                    Rs. 19,980 crore                         Women            Rs. 79,258 crore             The Minister announced an integrated education and livelihood scheme called ‘Nai Manzil’ will be launched this year to enable Minority Youth who do not have a formal school-leaving certificate to obtain one and find better employment. Further, to showcase civilization and culture of the Parsis, the Government will support, in 2015-16, an exhibition, ‘The Everlasting Flame’. Micro Units Development Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Bank Set up for Small Enterprises in Lending Priority was Given to SC/ST Enterprises The Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitely presenting the Union Budget 2015-16, here today, said that our government firmly believes that development has to generate inclusive growth. While large corporate and business entities have role to play, this has to be complemented by informal sector enterprises which generate maximum employment the Minister added. There are some 5.77 crore small business units, mostly individual proprietorship, which run small manufacturing, trading or service businesses. 62% of these are owned by SC/ST/OBC. Shri Jaitley further said that these bottom-of-the-pyramid, hard-working entrepreneurs find it difficult, if not impossible, to access formal systems of credit. Shri Jaitley therefore, proposed to create a Micro Units Development Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Bank, with a corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore, and credit guarantee corpus of Rs. 3,000 crore. MUDRA Bank will refinance Micro-Finance Institutions through a Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. In lending, priority will be given to SC/ST enterprises. These measures will greatly increase the confidence of young, educated or skilled workers who would now be able to aspire to become first generation entrepreneurs; existing small businesses, too, will be able to expand their activities. The Finance Minister further said that just as we are banking the un-banked, we are also funding the un-funded. Distinction Between Different types of Foreign Investments Done Away to Simplify the Procedure for Indian Companies to Attract Foreign Investment The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley has proposed to do away with the distinction between different types of foreign investments, especially between foreign portfolio investments and foreign direct investments, and replace them with composite caps. Presenting the General Budget 2015-16 in the Lok Sabha here today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley stated that this was being done to further simplify the procedures for Indian companies to attract foreign investments. The sectors which are already on a 100 percent automatic route would not be affected.  Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna to be Fully Supported Pradhanmantri Gram Sinchai Yojana to Provide ‘Per Drop More Crop’ The Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitely presenting the Union Budget 2015-16, here today, said that “Our commitment to farmers runs deep. We have already taken major steps to address the two major factors critical to agricultural production: soil and water”. In order to improve soil health, Union Minister propose to support Agriculture Ministry’s organic farming scheme – “Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana”. Shri Jaitely said the Pradhanmantri Gram Sinchai Yojana is aimed at irrigating the field of every farmer and improving water use efficiently to provide ‘Per Drop More Crop’.The Budget provides for alllocation of Rs. 5,300 crore to support micro-irrigation, watershed development and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.The Minister urged the States to chip in substantially in this vital sector.  Tax Measures Announced to Promote Swachh Bharat Initiatives and Public Health. The Central Government will impose a Swachh Bharat Cess on all or certain taxable services at a rate of 2% from a date to be notified. The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley announced in his Budget Speech that the proceeds from this Cess would be utilized for Swachh Bharat initiatives. In a related development, the Scheduled rate of Clean Energy Cess levied on coal lignite and peat is being increased form Rs. 100 per tonne to Rs. 300 per tonne. The effective rate of Clean Energy Cess is being increased from Rs. 100 per tonne to Rs. 200 per tonne. Similarly, Excise duty on sacks and bags of polymers of ethylene other than for industrial use is being increased from 12% to 15%. Concessional customs and excise duty rates on specified parts of Electrically Operated Vehicles and Hybrid Vehicles, presently available up to 31.03.2015, is being extended up to 31.03.2016. To promote public health, Excise duty on cigarettes is being increased by 25% for cigarettes of length not exceeding 65 mm and by 15% for cigarettes of other lengths. Similar increases are proposed on cigars, cheroots and cigarillos. Maximum speed of packing machine is being specified as a factor relevant to production for determining excise duty payable under the Compounded Levy Scheme presently applicable to pan masala, gutkha and chewing tobacco. Excise duty on chassis for ambulances is being reduced from 24% to 12.5%.  Corporate Tax to be Reduced and GST to be Implemented; Gaar Deferred by Two Years The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that to give a fillip to growth, investment and promotion of domestic manufacturing and ‘Make in India’, aiming at job creation, a series of measures are included in the budget. In his Budget Speech in the Lok Sabha here today, Shri Jaitley said Tax ‘pass through’ is proposed to be allowed to both Category-I and Category-II Alternative Investment funds, so that tax is levied on investors in these funds and not on the funds per se. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said the measure will step-up the ability of these funds to mobilize higher resources and make higher investments in small and medium enterprises, infrastructure and social projects and provide the much required private equity to new ventures and start-ups. He also said the Permanent Establishment (PE) norms are to be modified to encourage offshore fund managers to relocate to India. The modification will be to the effect that mere presence of a fund manager in India would not constitute PE of the offshore funds, as this is resulting in adverse tax consequences currently. The Finance Minister also announced deferment of the General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR) by two years to accelerate the momentum of investment sentiment in the country, which he said, has turned positive now. Further, to facilitate technology inflow to small businesses at low costs, the rate of income tax on royalty and fees for technical services is to be reduced from 25% to 10%. Another step for boosting employment opportunities announced is that all business entities will be eligible for the benefit of deduction for employment of new regular workmen of 50 rather than 100 employees.