Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Union Budget 2011-12 Part II

Union Budget 2011-12 Part II
  • Allocation under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to be raised to Rs 7860 crore
  • Farm credit flow raised to Rs 4.75 lakh crore
  • Removal of supply bottlenecks in food sector in focus in 2011/12
  • To allow Rs 300 bn tax free bonds for railways, NHAI
  • Infrastructure spending to be raised by 23%
  • To set up 15 mega food parks
  • GST Bill to be introduced in parliament this year
  • Policy on Narcotic drugs is good for Piramal Healthcare
  • To allocate Rs 580 bn to Bharat Nirman projects
  • A new scheme to be introduced for refund of service tax on lines of drawback of duties
  • To classify capex of fertilizer sector into infrastructure
  • To allocation Rs 210 bn to primary education, up 40%
  • Realty stocks gain as FM extends interest subvention
  • To classify capex of fertilizer sector into infrastructure
  • To allocation Rs 210 bn to primary education, up 40%
  • Realty stocks gain as FM extends interest subvention
  • Edible oil cos rise on allocation of Rs 300 cr
  • To provide Rs 2 bn grant to IIT Kharagpur, Rs 200 mn to IIM Calcutta
  • To extend National Health Scheme to workers in mining sector
  • Aptech up 2.37%, Navneet up 2.69%, Educomp down 0.5%, Zee Learn up 3.6%
  • 100% salary hike for Anganwadi teachers
  • DTC after getting Standing Committee Report
  • FIIs will be allowed to invest in mutual funds schemes
  • Remuneration of anganwadi workers raised from Rs 1500 to Rs 3,000/month. Helpers to get Rs 1,500 from Rs 750
  • To allocate Rs 26,760 to health sector
  • To give Rs 80 bn to J and K for development needs
  • To give Rs 80 bn to Northeast and special states
  • Allocation to Department of Justice increased 3 fold to Rs 30 bn
  • FY12 defense capex seen at Rs 69,199 crore
  • Direct Tax Code likely to be passed by parliament next fiscal year
  • Old age pension to persons of over the age of 80 raised from Rs 200 to Rs 500
  • Allocation for defense at Rs 1.64 lakh crore
  • Nifty gains momentum; PSU, realty, oil and gas up
  • To amend Indian Stamp Act shortly
  • To simplify tax form for small businesses
  • Age reduced for BPL pension eligibility
  • Allocation for health sector up 20%
  • Plan expenditure at Rs 4.14 lakh crore
  • To provide Rs 580 bn for Bharat Nirman projects
  • Gross Tax Receipts at Rs 9.32 lakh crore, up 25%
  • 11th plan expenditure up 100% in nominal terms
  • Fiscal deficit down at 5.1% from 5.4%
  • Fiscal deficit seen at 4.6% for FY 11-12
  • Revenue deficit for FY11 seen at 3.4%
  • Age for being classified as senior citizen cut to 60 years from 65 years
  • Exemption IT limit raised to Rs 1.8 lakh from Rs 1.6 lakh
  • Revenue deficit for FY11 seen at 3.4%
  • Fiscal deficit seen at 4.1% in FY 13, 3.5% in FY 14
  • Surcharge on domestic companies cut to 5% from 7.5%
  • Special Economic Zones to come under MAT
  • Tax sops of Rs 20,000 on Infra Bonds extended for one year
  • Bond yields inch up as social spending rises
  • Foreign unit dividend tax rate cut to 15% for Indian companies
  • To withdraw 130 items from exemption under Central Excise
  • Central excise duty rate unchanged at 10%
  • Service tax retained at 10%
  • Direct Tax proposals net loss estimated at Rs 115 billion
  • BSE Indices: MIDCAP index up 0.38%, Small cap index up 0.66%, BSE 500 index up 0.71%, PSU index up 1.96%, Oil & Gas index up 1.79 %
  • Nifty up 0.30 %, CNX IT up 0.35 %, CNX 100 up 0.22%, CNX Midcap up 0.57 %, CNX Infra up 0.23 %, CNX Realty up 0.67 %, CNBank Nifty down 0.62%
  • Base rate on excise duty raised to 5% from 4%
  • Net tax to Centre will be Rs 6,64,457 cr. Non-tax receipts pegged at Rs 1,25,435 cr
  • FY 12 fiscal deficit seen at Rs 4.12 lakh crore
  • Budget estimates for 2011-12 projects Rs 9,32,440 crore – an increase of 24%
  • No new tax exemption limits for women
  • Education firms up 3-5% on higher allocation
  • Unified ad valorem rate of 10% for iron ore
  • He concludes by saying DTC, GST to help moderate taxes

Pandora Box XIII


Pandora Box XIII March 2011


1. Many a times we read in the newspapers that Banks in India partially implement the Narrow banking. In this context, consider the following statements: 
1. In Narrow Banking, Banks just accept deposits and provide loans. 
2. In Narrow Banking, there is rarely Asset Liability Mismatch. 
Which among the above statements is / are correct ?
(A)Only 1 is correct
(B)Only 2 is correct
(C)Both 1 & 2 are correct
(D)Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Ans.(B)


2. At which among the following places, Asia’s first EPZ (Export Processing Zone) was set up in 1965?
(A)Surat
(B)Cochin
(C)Kandla
(D)Chennai
Ans.(C)


3.Which among the following is the closest figure to the share of SEZ Exports in India’s Exports in the fiscal year 2010-11?
(A)8.52%
(B)17.68%
(C)25.54%
(D)29.7%
Ans.(D)


4. In recent times, India has been pushing for free trade agreements with ASEAN, South Korea, Individual countries of South East Asia and Japan etc. Why the country is looking for the bilateral agreements when there is a multilateral trading system is existance under the WTO?
(A)The multilateral trading system does not allow reduction of tariff beyond a set level
(B)There is uncertain progress on the Doha global trade talks and it is the need of the hour to try to get bilateral agreements
(C)The bilateral agreements are as per the look east policy of India which is more important that the MTS
(D)All of above
Ans.(B)


5. In which state is located the Wheeler Island , which is used to test various missiles and other defense equipments of India?
(A)Tamil Nadu
(B)Odisha
(C)Gujarat
(D)Andhra Pradesh
Ans.(B)


6. The "Decision Review System" which is making news now a days in relation to the ICC World Cup was first used in a Test between which among the following countries ?
(A)Australia - England
(B)India - Australia
(C)New Zealand - Pakistan
(D)India - Pakistan
Ans.(C)


7. Which among the following is the closest explanation to the 'Opex London 2012'?
(A)Its a new programme of Union Sports Ministry to prepare Indian athletes for 2012 London Olympics
(B)It is a programme of Ministry of Environment and Forests for promoting India's stand for the upcoming summit in London in 2012
(C)It’s a Mega exhibition that is planned in London in 2012 and is going to be world's largest exhibition
(D)None of the above
Ans.(A)


8. Recently, in a seminar, RBI Governor D Subbarao said that Banks need to raise deposit rates in order to encourage savings, and lower lending rates to help the country achieve double-digit growth. In banking terms, which among the following Mr. Subbarao was referring to?
(A)The Net Interest Margin of Banks should go up
(B)The Net Interest Margin of Banks should come down
(C)The Banks should control NPA
(D)Non-interest expenses of the Banks should go down
Ans.(B)


9. A company wishes to establish a Multi Product Special Economic Zone in Manipur. What is the minimum area requirement for this company to fulfill for getting approval for that SEZ ?
(A)5000 Hectare
(B)1000 Hectare
(C)500 Hectare
(D)200 Hectare
Ans.(D)


10. Who among the following is heading the task force that has been set up by the Government to work out the modalities for the proposed system of direct transfer of subsidy for kerosene, LPG and fertilizers?
(A)Suresh Tendulkar
(B)Ashok Chawla
(C)Nandan Nilkeni
(D)C Rangrajan
Ans.(C)


11. Consider the following statements : 
1. Serious Fraud Investigation Office played an active role in investigating the accounts bungling at Satyam Computer Services
2. Serious Fraud Investigation Office is set up as a statutory body in India
Which among the above statements is / are correct ?
(A)Only 1 is correct
(B)Only 2 is correct
(C)Both 1 & 2 are correct
(D)Neither 1 nor 2 are correct
Ans.(A)


12. Consider the following statements: 
1. Direct Taxes Code (DTC) will replace the Income Tax Act and is proposed to be implemented from 1st April, 2012
2. Direct Taxes Code (DTC) implementation can take place only by Constitutional Amendment 
Which among the above statements is/ are correct ?
(A)Only 1 is correct
(B)Only 2 is correct
(C)Both are correct statements
(D)Neither is a correct statement
Ans.(C)


13. Which among the following state has highest number of Export Oriented Units in India?
(A)Tamil Nadu
(B)Maharastra
(C)Karnataka
(D)Andhra Pradesh
Ans.(C)


14.What Kind of Business been referred by C Rangarajan , chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council as a ‘flawed business model’ in which the companies / Banks primarily leverage on the existing social ties to engage in multiple lending, that too for consumption?
(A)Regional Rural Banks
(B)Micro Finance Companies
(C)Primary Agriculture Credit Societies
(D)District Cooperative Banks
Ans.(B)


15. The world famous global InfoTech and communications fair CeBIT 2011 is organized at which among the following cities?
(A)Shanghai, China
(B)Hanover, Germany
(C)Paris, France
(D)Geneva, Switzerland
Ans.(B)


16.Essam Sharaf has been appointed as Prime Minister of which among the following countries on March 3, 2011?
(A)Libya
(B)Egypt
(C)Tunisia
(D)Albania
Ans.(B)


17.How much amount has been earmarked in the Union Budget 2011-12 to enable Regional Rural Banks to maintain a CRAR of at least 9 per cent as on March 31, 2012?
(A)Rs. 500 Crore
(B)Rs. 600 Crore
(C)Rs. 800 Crore
(D)Rs. 1000 Crore
Ans.(A)


18.Which among the following is the correct objective of the "National Mission for Protein Supplements"?
(A)Promotion of animal based protein production through livestock development, dairy farming, piggery, goat rearing and fisheries
(B)Promotion of plant based protein production through cultivation of Soyabean and other protein rich crops
(C)Both of them
(D)None of them
Ans.(A)


19.The government of India has fixed which among the following target for farmer credits in the year 2011-12?
(A)Rs. 4,00,000 Crore
(B)Rs. 4,50,000 Crore
(C)Rs. 4,75, 000 Crore
(D)Rs. 5,00,000 Crore
Ans.(C)


20.With which of the following countries, India had signed its first Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEA) ?
(A)Bahamas
(B)Bermuda
(C)Virgin Islands
(D)Switzerland
Ans.(B)


21.What fraction of the Total plan allocation has been made in the Union Budget 2010-11 for social sector?
(A)29.8%
(B)32.4%
(C)36.4%
(D)37.2%
Ans.(C)


22.On which of the following ‘clean energy cess’ is levied in India?
(A)Gasoline
(B)Domestically produced Coal
(C)Imported Coal
(D)Both 2 & 3
Ans.(D)


23.To combat which among the following problems, the government has announced the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) recently?
(A)Inflation
(B)Terrorism
(C)Naxalism
(D)Natural disasters
Ans.(C)


24.What fraction of the GDP has been kept as Fiscal Deficit for 2011-12 in the recently announced budget?
(A)3.6%
(B)3.5%
(C)4.6%
(D)4.8%
Ans.(C)


25.Which among the following is the capital of Southern Sudan?
(A)Kassala
(B)Juba
(C)Bor
(D)Bentiu
Ans.(B)


26.With which among the following sports, Ian Thorpe is related to?
(A)Athletics
(B)Boxing
(C)Swimming
(D)Racing
Ans.(C)


27.Which among the following is not correctly matched?
(A)Kobe Bryant - Basketball
(B)Andres Iniesta - Tennis
(C)Manny Pacquiao - Boxing
(D)Sebastian Vettel - Formula One
Ans.(B)


28.Which among the following Government has recently signed an agreement called "Project Merlin" with 4 major banks of the country?
(A)Australia
(B)England
(C)France
(D)Germany
Ans.(B)


29.Which among the following country is the host of first International Choir Festival coming up soon?
(A)Japan
(B)Vietnam
(C)Malaysia
(D)Myanmar
Ans.(B)


30.Which among the following film was recently making news for winning 7 BAFTA Awards?
(A)The Social Network
(B)The King's Speech
(C)Black Swan
(D)Inception
Ans.(B)