Highlights of Economic Survey 2009-10

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday 25 Februar, 2010 tabled a cautious but optimistic Economic Survey 2009-10 in Parliament, which predicted 7.2 percent growth for the current fiscal and a full recovery in 2011-12, while remaining concerned over inflation and fiscal deficit.

The Survey said Indian economy is well on a recovery track and is expected to expand by 8.25-8.75 percent in 2010-11 and even exceed 9 percent the year after.

Survey Highlights
Growth
● Economy seen growing 8.25-8.75 % in 2010-11
● Economy expected to return to 9% growth in medium term
● India FY11 growth seen 100 bps more than FY10
● Medeum term prospects of economic growth “really strong”
● India could be fastest growing economy in next four years
● Expect GDP growth to breach 9% mark in 2011-12
● Risk of second dip recession in advanced nations
● India seems to be returning to pre-crisis growth rate
● India medium, long-term growth prospects excellent
● No reason why India can’t achieve double-digit growth
● Clear Sign of recovery in industrial output
● Largely contained risk to growth from poor monsoon

Food Prices
● Food subsidy must be given directly to households
● Food coupons must replace existing PDS system
● Must identify poor for effective food coupon system
● Possible to switch to food coupons system by 2012
● India has ample stocks of wheat, rice
● Wheat prices may moderate on hope of better harvest
● Vegetable prices started to ease on rabi crop arrival
● Food suibsidy must be given directly to households
● Food coupons must replace existing PDS systems

Union Budget 2010-11 Highlights

The Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee leaves North Block for Parliament House
to present the General Budget 2010-11, in New Delhi on February 26, 2010.

Highlights of 2010-11 budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in parliament Friday February 26, 2010:

Budget Highlights
● Online news agencies to attract tax
● Sensex surges 350 points on new tax slabs
● Rationalising tax criteria on gaming software
● No hike in service tax
● Corporate surcharge down from 10 per cent to 7.5 per cent
● Liquor prices set to go up
● Prices of gold, silver, precious stones set to rise
● Makers of mobile accessories to get tax breaks
● No taxes on transportation of pulses
● Prices to go up for cars, cement, fuel, cigarettes, air conditioners, TVs, steel
● To restore 7.5 per cent duty on petrol and diesel
● Raise excise duty on all non smoking tobacco
● Uproar over hike in fuel prices in Lok Sabha
● To restore 5 per cent duty on crude petroleum
● Fuel prices likely to go up
● Central exicse duty on petrol and diesel raised to Rs 1 per litre
● Rollback in excise duty to 10 per cent
● Govt announces partial rollback in excise duty
● Excise on large cars, SUVs and MUVs raised to 22 per cent
● Presumptive tax limit raised to Rs 60 lakh
● Investment linked deduction benefit for two star hotels
● Deduction of Rs 20,000 towards infrastructure bonds
● Reduce current surcharge on companies to 7.5 per cent
● Income above 8 lakh - 30 per cent tax
● Income from 5 lakh to 8 lakh - 20 per cent tax
● Income between 1.6 lakh to 5 lakh - 10 per cent tax
● No tax on income up to Rs 1.6 lakh
● IT department to notify Saral 2 forms

55th Idea Filmfare Awards Winners

While Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 3 Idiots snapped up the most popular awards—Best Film, Best Director, Best Story, Best Screenplay, Best Dialogue and Best Supporting Actor —Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D won six as well. The Best Actor award went to Amitabh Bachchan for his performance as a progeriaafflicted child in Paa, while Vidya Balan walked away with the Best Actress trophy for the same film.

Awards Winners
● Best Film – 3 Idiots
● Best Director – Raj Kumar Hirani (3 Idiots)
● Best Actor (Male) – Amitabh Bachchan (Paa)
● Best Actor (Female) – Vidya Balan (Paa)
● Best Supporting Actor (Male) – Boman Irani (3 Idiots)
● Best Supporting Actor (Female) – Kalki Koechlin (Dev D)
● Best Music – A. R. Rahman (Delhi 6)
● Best Lyrics – Irshad Kamil (Aaj Din Chadya, Love Aaj Kal Best)
● Playback (Male) – Mohit Chauhan (Masakali, Delhi 6)
● Best Playback (Female) – Kavita Seth (Iktara, Wake Up Sid Rekha Bhardwaj Genda Phool, Delhi 6)

82nd Annual Academy Awards : Winners List

Paul N.J. Ottosson poses backstage with the Oscars for best achievement in

sound editing and sound mixing for “The Hurt Locker”

List of winners at the 82nd annual Academy Awards:
• Motion Picture: ‘The Hurt Locker.’

• Actor: Jeff Bridges, ‘Crazy Heart.’

• Actress: Sandra Bullock, ‘The Blind Side.’

• Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, ‘Inglourious Basterds.

• Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, ‘Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire.’

• Director: Kathryn Bigelow, ‘The Hurt Locker.’

• Foreign Film: ‘El Secreto de Sus Ojos,’ Argentina.

• Adapted Screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher, ‘Precious: Based on the Novel `Push' by Sapphire.’


• Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, ‘The Hurt Locker.’

• Animated Feature Film: ‘Up.’

• Art Direction: ‘Avatar.’

2010 FIFA World Cup : Spain the New Champions

स्पेन फुटबॉल का नया विश्व चैंपियन बना

यूरोपीयन चैम्पियन स्पेन की टीम ने सॉकर सिटी स्टेडियम में खेले गए खिताबी मुकाबले में हॉलैंड को 1-0 से हराकर फीफा विश्व कप का खिताब जीत लिया है।

स्पेन की टीम को स्ट्राइकर आंद्रेस इनिएस्ता ने अतिरिक्त समय (116वें मिनट) में किए गए ‘गोल्डन गोल’ की मदद से जीत दिलाई। स्पेन ने पहली बार विश्व कप जीता है जबकि हॉलैंड की टीम तीसरी बार खिताब से एक कदम दूर रह गई।

निर्धारित 90 मिनट में दोनों टीमें एक भी गोल नहीं कर सकीं थीं। इसके बाद मैच अतिरिक्त समय तक खिंचा। अतिरिक्त समय के पहले हॉफ में भी कोई गोल नहीं हुआ लेकिन दूसरे हॉफ में इनिएस्ता ने चेस्क फेब्रीगास के शानदार पास पर गोल करके अपनी टीम को विश्व चैम्पियन बना दिया।


पहली बार किसी यूरोपीय देश से बाहर दो यूरोपीय देशों के बीच खेले गए इस मैच के बाद विश्व फुटबॉल को आठवां चैम्पियन मिला। यह दूसरा मौका है जब किसी टीम ने यूरोपीयन चैम्पियन होने के साथ-साथ विश्व कप जीता है। इससे पहले 1974 में जर्मनी ने यह कारनामा किया था।