On the right track: railway to develop facilities for physically challenged passengers

Budget identifies employment avenue for physically challenged

Who gets how much

Budget outlay for different ministries and departments

Railway budget proposes a slew of measures for modernisation

Cost will be met through borrowings and debt service fund

Rs 1,400 crore for setting up water purification plants

Ministry of drinking water and sanitation gets Rs 15,260 crore

Budget offers big push for rural infrastructure

Green transportation gets lip service

Programme for maternal and child malnutrition gets Rs 300 crore

It was announced last year but could not take off due to fund crunch

Push for Ayurveda, Unani and other alternative systems of medicine

They have been brought into the mainstream through the National Health Mission; but funds allocation not high

Budget brings no relief to health sector

FM does not mention Universal Health Coverage, combines rural and urban health missions while making allocations

Plan spending on social sectors and a paradox in budgetary policies

Central government's social spending is just 2 per cent of GDP, yet it may reduce allocation for welfare sectors by citing inability of the …

Renewable energy: areas of concern for Union Budget 2013-14

There is a need for mainstreaming renewable energy, but the budget outlay proposed in the 12th Plan is grossly inadequate

Andhra government fails to present much-hyped agriculture budget

It presents only an action plan for agriculture; Rs 25,962 crore earmarked for agriculture and allied sectors

Taxation and inequality: expectations from Union Budget 2013-14

It is imperative that the forthcoming Budget recognises that fair taxation policies are at the core of addressing inequality in the country