Finance Minister Chidambaram has presented the Union Budget for 2013 – 14. Here are some of the main highlights of the budget

• Service Tax on Film Industry scrapped.

• Cigarettes, Mobiles, Imported Luxury Cars, SUV’s, High Capacity Motorcycles, Set Top Boxes, DTH Services and Hotels to be costlier

• Leather goods, Books, Footwear and Readymade garments will be cheaper.

• Surcharge of 10% on persons who earn more than Rs. 1 Crore

• New Sea Ports in Andhra Pradesh and Bengal.

• No Change in Income Tax Slabs

• TDS of 1 % on land deals over Rs. 50 lakh

• 3000 km of road projects to be approved

• Additional IT exemption of 1 lakh for taxpayer taking 1st home loan worth upto Rs 25 Lakhs

• Excise rate, service tax rate unchanged

• 4.5 % increase in Defence Budget at Rs. 2.03 trillion

• Clean drinking water and sanitation projects allocated Rs. 15,260 Crores

• Allocation of 1,400 Crores for fluoride affected areas

• FM Radio in all cities that have a population of 1 lakh or more.

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