Question #
One of the intended objectives of Union Budget 2017-18 is to 'transform, energize and clean India'. Analyse the measures proposed in the Budget 2017-18 to achieve the objective.
Answer by Chad #
The Union Budget 2017-18 aims to transform, energize, and clean India through various measures proposed in different sectors. Let's analyze the key proposals:
1. Infrastructure Development: The government plans to invest ₹3.96 lakh crore in the infrastructure sector. This investment aims to transform India's transportation network, renovating railway stations, expanding highways, and improving rural roads, which will effectively transform the overall infrastructure of the country.
2. Affordable Housing: The budget proposes to grant infrastructure status to affordable housing projects, which will attract investments into this sector. This move will energize the housing sector by providing cheaper funds, tax benefits, and encourage the construction of affordable homes.
3. Renewable Energy: The government aims to achieve 175 GW of clean energy by 2022. The budget has proposed various measures, including ultra-mega solar power projects, solar parks, and solar-powered railway stations, to promote renewable energy. These initiatives will help in clean energy generation, thereby contributing to the objective of a cleaner India.
4. Clean Air: To address the issue of air pollution, a special scheme has been proposed to replace coal-based thermal power plants with cleaner energy sources. Additionally, the budget has allocated funds for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which aims to provide clean cooking fuel connections to women in rural households, thus contributing to a cleaner environment.
5. Digital Economy: The government aims to energize the digital economy through initiatives like promoting cashless transactions, digital payment infrastructure, and tax benefits for startups. These measures will encourage people to adopt digital transactions, leading to a more efficient economy.
6. Skill Development: The budget emphasizes skill development to transform India into a globally competitive economy. Measures like establishing skill centers, promoting vocational training, and improving the quality of education aim to energize the workforce and make them employable in various sectors.
7. Black Money and Tax Reforms: The budget proposes several measures to tackle black money, such as mandating Aadhaar-based filing of tax returns, limiting cash transactions, and promoting digital transactions. These reforms aim to energize the economy by curbing black money and expanding the tax base.
In conclusion, the Union Budget 2017-18 proposes a range of measures to transform, energize, and clean India. These measures focus on infrastructure development, affordable housing, renewable energy, clean air, digital economy, skill development, and tax reforms. Implementing these proposals can contribute to the desired objective of transforming India into a clean, energized, and developed nation.