Key highlights of Union Budget 2018

We have already exceeded our disinvestment target, announces Arun Jaitley. Disinvestment target for 2017-18 has been exceeded and will reach Rs 1 lakh crore. Target for 2018-19 is Rs 80,000 crore. 5 lakh WiFi hotspots will be set up in rural areas to provide easy internet access. Government will take all steps to eliminate use of cryptocurrencies which are funding illegitimate transactions.

Govt announces Amrut program to focus on water supply to all households in 500 cities. Water supply contracts for 494 projects worth Rs 19,428 core will be awarded, says FM.NITI Aayog will establish a national programme to direct our efforts in the area of Artificial Intelligence towards national development, says FM.

Airport capacity to be hiked to handle 1 billion trips every year. Arun Jaitley says that 4,000 km of new railway track will be laid down by 2019.All railways stations with footfall more than 25,000 to have escalators, says the Finance Minister. The government will undertake redevelopment of 600 major railway stations across the country. Arun Jaitley announces capital expenditure of Rs 1,48,528 crore for Indian Railways in 2018-19.

National Heritage City Development Augmentation Scheme has been undertaken to preserve and protect heritage cities in the country, announces the Finance Minister. Government to contribute 12 per cent of EPF contribution for new employees in all sectors, says FM.Infrastructure is the growth driver of economy, says FM.Target of 3 lakh crore for lending under PM Mudra Yojana, says FM.

MSME enterprises are a major element for growth, says Jaitley. He also added that mass formalisation of MSME sector is happening after demonetisation and GST. Govt will launch health scheme to cover 10 crore poor families, Arun Jaitley says. The Government is slowly but steadily progressing towards universal health coverage, says FM .Government aims to bring 60 crore bank accounts under the Jan Dhan Yojana.

Eklavya schools to be started for Scheduled Tribe populations, says FM.Rs 600 crore allocated to Tuberculosis patients undergoing treatment. Govt will set up two new Schools of Planning and Architecture, says Finance Minister Jaitley. To tackle brain drain, Jaitley announces scheme to identify bright students pursuing B Tech in premiere engineering institutes, and providing them higher-education opportunities in the IITs and IISc. These students will receive handsome fellowships, and will be expected to dedicate a few hours to teach in higher education institutions weekly.

Specialised railway university to be set up at Vadodara. Jaitley proposed integrated BEd programme for teachers: "training of teachers during service is essential." Technology will be the biggest driver in improving the quality of education. Budget allocates money for social security and protection programme for all widows and orphaned children. We have a target to provide all Indians with their own homes by 2022, says Jaitley. Ujjwala scheme to amplify targets, will now provide 8 crore rural women free LPG connections.

Air pollution in Delhi-NCR has been a cause of concern, govt has proposed subsidised machinery for in-situ management of crop residue in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT Delhi. Govt of India will take necessary measures to put in place measures for the state government to purchase surplus solar power produced by local farmers at sutiable prices. Arun Jaitley proposes a sum of Rs 500 crore for 'Operation Green' on the lines of 'Operation Flood'. Food processing sector is going at an average of 8 per cent per annum. We have been saying it for years that India is primarily an agricultural country:FM.Jaitley on Minimum Support Price of agricultural products: Only increasing the MSP is not enough, the government will fix the MSP of agricultural products at 1.5 rates.