New Delhi, Feb 3: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday gave an exclusive interview to Zee Business after presenting fifth and last full-fledged budget of NDA government before general elections in 2019. In an exclusive interview with Zee Business, Arun Jaitley explained his budget that was presented in Lok Sabha with much fanfare on Thursday. He answered a slew of questions ranging from National Health Protection Scheme to Long-term capital gains. Jaitley, in his budget speech, had also announced new schemes to generate jobs and promote self-employment. [Also read: Union Budget 2018: Health Care For 50 Crore People, Gain For Farmers: Key Points]

Highlights of the interview

  1. Jaitley said that the Union budget 2018-19 is a different budget in comparison with previous years. We launched a slew of schemes in last four years. The government laid emphasis on the aspects which could not be covered in this period. National Health Protection Scheme and focus on agriculture was given with this background only.
  2. The government has also provided standard deduction in the budget and consolidated all benefits to the middle class in a package. “We have allocated Rs 12,000 crore for the middle in the budget,” said Jaitley.
  3.  Responding on increased customs duties, Jaitley said the move is intended to increase jobs in the country. “We have appropriated technologies to produce consumers goods in previous decades. Now, our companies are exporting goods to rest of the world. Thus, the move will only help the country in the long run,” said Jaitley.
  4. Commenting on National Health Protection Scheme, Jaitley said that government will be rolling out world’s healthcare scheme in the next financial year. He added that the government empowered the rural India by giving them this right. [Also read: Centre Likely to Launch World’s Biggest Health Protection Scheme on August 15 or October 2]
  5. Jaitley emphasised that the target for lowering the fiscal deficit for next year is not conservative. The government has fixed the target at 3.5 percent.