Highlights of General Budget 2009-10

New Delhi, July 6 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Minister on Monday presented the General Budget 2009-10 in the Parliament.

The highlights of the General Budget 2009-10 are as follows:

1. Growth rate in 2008-09 dipped to 6.7 per cent from average nine per cent growth in previous three fiscal years.

3. Fiscal deficit grew from 2.7 per cent to 6.8 per cent of GDP

4. Total fiscal stimulus during 2008-09 amounts to Rs 1,86,000 crore.

5. in goods and services doubled to 47 per cent in 2008-09

6. Indian Infrastructure Finance Company Limited will re-finance commercial bank loans upto 60 per cent in critical projects through public private partnership to the tune of Rs 1,00,000 crore to raise investment in the sector.

7. More funds allocated to help Mumbai fight floods during rains.

8. Allocations for highways being stepped up by 23 per cent.

9. Allocation for urban poor for provision for housing and basic amenities to be raised to Rs 3,973 crore in the current year.

10. Allocation for Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission increased by 87 per cent to Rs 12,887 crore.

11. Central assistance for storm-water drainage project increased to Rs 500 crore from Rs 200 crore in the interim budget

12. Print media stimulus package extended by six months

13.Target for agriculture credit raised to Rs 3,25,000 cr in 2009-10

14.An expert panel will look into petroleum product pricing

15.Domestic oil prices must be in sync with global prices

16.Fertiliser subsidy to go directly to farmers

17.Export Credit Guarantee scheme extended till March 2010

18. Storm-water drainage project fund hiked to Rs 500 cr

19. Blueprint for national gas grid

20. Additional budget allocation to farmers.

21. Work on National Food Security scheme for subsidised food

22. Rs 100 cr one-time grant to expand banks in unbanking areas

23. Indira Awaas Yojna hiked by 63 per cent to Rs 8,883 cr

24. Allocation for Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojna up by 59 per cent

25. Rs 39,100 crore allocation for NREGA

26. Rural mega clusters in Bengal and Rajasthan

27. Interest subsidy on education loans (ANI)