Vasundhara Raje Presented Rs.1,66,000-crore Rajasthan Budget 2017-18

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented Rs.1,66,000-crore state budget for 2017-18 in the Legislative Assembly on March 8, 2017 with focus on aiding farmers and promoting tourism in the state.

♦ The Budget is based on the government’s vision document mission 2020. It aims at a happy Rajasthan and a happy Rajasthani.

Salient Features of the State Budget 2017-18
i. Estimated Revenue Deficit for 2017-18 without effect of UDAY is Rs. 1528 crore. And with effect of UDAY is Rs. 13528 crore.
ii. Estimated Fiscal Deficit for 2017-18 is Rs. 24753.53 crore which is 2.99% of GSDP.
iii. Estimated total revenue receipts for 2017-18 Rs. 130162 crore.
iv. Estimated own tax revenue for 2017-18 Rs. 59455 crore which is higher by 16.16%
v. Estimated own tax revenue for 2017-18  was 8.34% of GSDP.

Important Allocations

Public Works Department (PWD) for Infrastructure Development: Rs 6,657.32 crore

• Water Resources Department: Rs. 3313.08 crore which is 11.14% higher than the RE of 2016-17.
• Tourism: Rs 88 crore
• Art, Culture And Archaeology Department: Rs 156.83 crore an increase of 49%.
• Agricultural Department: Rs. 3156.61 crore
• Social Justice And Empowerment Department: Rs. 5596.80 crore
• Medical and Health Department: Rs. 6,315.38 Crore which is 8.21 % higher than 2016-17.
• Medical Education Department: Rs. 2,574.86 Crore which is 33.40% higher than 2016-17
• Women and Child Development Department: 17.06% higher allocation in 2017-18
• Sports Sector: 24.30% higher outlay in 2017-18
• Higher Education: 11.01% higher outlay in 2017-18
• Computerization of PDS: Rs. 18.51 Crore
• Skill Development Department: Rs 1,007 crore which is 31% more than 2016-17.Labour And Employment Department: Rs. 1007.44 Crore which is 21.32% higher than 2016-17
• Allocation for providing food grain on concessional rates under National Food Security Schemes: Rs. 397.91 Crore.
• Home Department: Rs. 5,600 crore

Schemes

• 15% increase in the value added tax (VAT) on tobacco products to make them costlier
• VAT on ATF reduced to 1% under Regional Connectivity Scheme of Government of India to promote tourism in the State.
• Provide Wi-Fi facilities in 190 cities in 2017-18 to deepen digital penetration in the state.
• Double the subsidy and incentive amount for the marriage of a daughter under Sahyog and Uphar Yojana.
• Pension under Mukhyamantri Specially-abled Samman Pension Scheme (Rs 750 per month) would be applicable to all eligible without age criteria.
• Mukhyamantri Ekal Nari Samman Pension Yojana- widow pensioners elder than 60 years will get Rs.1000 p.m. and widow pensioners of more than 75 years will get Rs.1500 p.m
• Deemed Assessment Scheme has been introduced for VAT, Entry Tax, Luxury Tax and Entertainment Tax in the state.
• Mukhaya Mantri Beej Swavlamban Yozna for Kota, Bhilwara and Udaipur agricultural division.
• Aanganwadi workers will be given incentive of Rs. 250-500 p.m. based on work performance.
• A composition scheme with the rate of composition fee at 2% for micro and small enterprises having turnover up to Rs. 50 lakh.