With the BJP-led government seeking to focus on the poor, youth and farmers in the budget presented on Wednesday, political analysts said promises will have to match performance for the party to reap long-term electoral dividends. ....

Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Wednesday praised the union budget for the "government's intent" to "work for the left behind society". ....

Hoping for a 17-per cent growth in taxes revenues, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday presented the Union Budget 2017-18, offering more money for welfare schemes, minor tax sops for individuals and small firms, with a fiscal deficit of 3.2 per cent of GDP. ....

The government on Wednesday allocated Rs 48,853 crore for the health sector for the financial year 2017-18 -- a 23 per cent increase, and announced two new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jharkhand and Gujarat. ....

An Indian Navy Air Enclave was on Wednesday inaugurated at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here. ....

Aimed at enhancing the skilled workforce, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday announced a Rs 4,000 crore SANKALP programme under which 3.5 crore youth will be given market relevant training. ....

Aiming to make India a global electronics manufacturing hub, the government in its Budget 2017-18 on Wednesday hiked the allocation for Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) and the Electronics Development Fund to Rs 745 crore -- "an all-time high". ....

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh on Wednesday described the union budget as disappointing, saying the workers, salaried class and poor were overlooked. ....

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday presenting Union Budget 2017-18 said the government will extend Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras to all over the country and launch Sankalp scheme for youths. ....

Total capital and development expenditure on the Indian Railways during the next fiscal has been pegged at Rs 1,31,000 crore, with a little less than half to be provided by the government, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his budget presentation on Wednesday. ....

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has hailed Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's initiative "Namami Devi Narmade" Narmada Seva Yatra, which aims at making the Narmada river free of pollution. ....

Senior Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav on Wednesday criticised the Union Budget presented in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, saying it was "anti-poor and anti-farmer". ....

Samajwadi Party leader and wife of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav on Wednesday dubbed the Union Budget as "vision and directionless" and said that it neglected the farmers and the women. ....

Aiming to strengthen its Digital India push, the government on Wednesday said it will pump Rs 10,000 crore in 2017-18 in its BharatNet project to lay optical fibre cables (OFC). ....

Though Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget speech for 2017-18 on Wednesday said his proposals on excise and customs duties will not result in any significant loss or gain to the exchequer, the fine print suggests a host of items can become either cheaper or dearer. ....

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday demanded the arrest of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, blaming him for a blast near Bathinda that killed three persons. ....

Anyone transacting in cash above the newly imposed limit of Rs 3 lakh will have to pay a penalty of a similar amount, according to a top government official. ....

Anyone transacting in cash above the newly imposed limit of Rs 3 lakh will have to pay a penalty of a similar amount, according to a top government official. ....

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday dubbed the Union Budget a "damp squib" saying that it lacked vision and did not address key issues like job creation and agrarian distress. ....

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for presenting an "uttam" (excellent) Budget and said it will give new strength to the economy while also focused on eliminating corruption. ....