AGRICULTURE
» Outlay of Rs 8,000 crore for rural infrastructure
» Rural credit to be doubled over next three years

GROWTH
» The rural economy will benefit from increased investment
» Investment in new projects will spur growth

EXPORTS
» Emphasis on development of airports, seaports
» A new bill in the offing to regulate special economic zones

SERVICES
» Service tax rates raised from 8 to 10 per cent
» 13 more services brought under the tax net (but the sector's vibrancy will see the boom continue)

INFLATION
» The 2 per cent cess on all taxes will push up prices of virtually everything
» The increase in service tax (from 8 per cent to 10 per cent) will hike prices

FOREIGN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
» The India story is still alive
» Budget's overall tone is reformist and its efforts to prune fiscal deficit, commendable

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
» The India story is still alive
» Hike in foreign direct investment ceilings in telecom, civil aviation, insurance

JOBS
» 100-days gainful employment promised to one member of every poor family
» Launch of the Food for Work programme

INTEREST RATES
» Government to continue with a benign interest rate regime

FISCAL DEFICIT
» Non-plan expenditure is estimated to be lower at Rs 323,239 crore than the Budget estimate of Rs 349,787 crore
» A special drive to recover arrears will add Rs 8,000 crore to the government's revenues