Indian Union Budget 2012-2013 - March 16, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INDIAN UNION BUDGET 2012-13

AGRICULTURE

* Plan Outlay for Department of Agriculture and Co-operation increased by 18 per cent.

* Outlay for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) increased to Rs 9,217 crore in 2012-13.

* Initiative of Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) has resulted in increased production and productivity of paddy. Allocation for the scheme increased to Rs 1,000 crore in 2012-13 from Rs 400 crore in 2011-12.

* Rs 300 crore to Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme under RKVY.

* Remaining activities to be merged into following missions in Twelfth Plan:

* National Food Security Mission

* National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture including Micro Irrigation

* National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm

* National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology

* National Horticultural Mission

* National Mission for Protein Supplement

* Rs 2,242 crore project launched with World Bank assistance to improve productivity in the dairy sector. Rs 500 crore provided to broaden scope of production of fish to coastal aquaculture.



Agriculture Credit

* Target for agricultural credit raised by Rs 1,00,000 crore to Rs 5,75,000 crore in 2012-13.

* Interest subvention scheme for providing short term crop loans to farmers at 7 per cent interest per annum to be continued in 2012-13. Additional subvention of 3 per cent available for prompt paying farmers.

* Short term RRB credit refinance fund being set up to enhance the capacity of RRBs to disburse short term crop loans to small and marginal farmers.

* Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme to be modified to make KCC a smart card which could be used at ATMs.

Agricultural Research

* A sum of Rs 200 crore set aside for incentivising research with rewards.

Irrigation

* Structural changes in Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) being made to maximise flow of benefit from investments in irrigation projects.

* Allocation for AIBP in 2012-13 stepped up by 13 per cent to Rs 14,242 crore.

* Irrigation and Water Resource Finance Company being operationalised to mobilise large resources to fund irrigation projects.

* A flood management project approved by Ganga Flood Control Commission at a cost of Rs 439 crore for Kandi sub-division of Murshidabad District.

National Mission on Food Processing

* A new centrally sponsored scheme titled "National Mission on Food Processing" to be started in 2012-13 in co-operation with State Governments.

* Steps taken to create additional food grain storage capacity in the country.

INCLUSION

* Scheduled Castes and Tribal Sub Plans

* Allocation for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan at Rs 37,113 crore in BE 2012-13 represents an increase of 18 per cent over BE 2011-12.

* Allocation for Tribal Sub Plan at Rs 21,710 crore in BE 2012-13 represents an increase of 17.6 per cent.

Food Security

* National Food Security Bill, 2011 is before Parliamentary Standing Committee.

* A national information utility for computerisation of PDS is being created. To become operational by December, 2012.

Multi-sectoral Nutrition Augmentation Programme

* A multi-sectoral programme to address maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high burden districts is being rolled out during 2012-13.

* Allocation of Rs 15,850 crore made for Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) scheme, representing an increase of 58 per cent over BE 2011-12.

* Rs 11,937 crore allocated for National Programme of Mid Day Meals in schools.

* An allocation of Rs 750 crore proposed for Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, SABLA.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj

* Budgetary allocation for rural drinking water and sanitation increased from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 14,000 crore representing an increase of over 27 per cent.

* Allocation for PMGSY increased by 20 per cent to Rs.24,000 crore to improve connectivity.

* Major initiative proposed to strengthen Panchayats through Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan.

* Backward Regions Grant Fund scheme to continue in twelfth plan with enhanced allocation of Rs 12,040 crore in 2012-13, representing an increase of 22 per cent over the BE 2011-12.

* Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF)

* Allocation under RIDF enhanced to Rs 20,000 crore. Rs 5,000 crore earmarked exclusively for creating warehousing facilities.

>> GO TO PAGE 2
>> GO TO PAGE 3
>> GO TO PAGE 1