02:45 pm: If you say that NSP will resolve all the problems being faced by the farmers, it is not so but we are working towards the same: FM Arun Jaitley post Budget 2018 presentation
02:43 pm: Inflation in food has an affect on the economy, but at the same time there are other factors also that affect the economy: FM Arun Jaitley post Budget 2018 presentation
02:41 pm:I want congratulate PM Modi on announcing the world's biggest national health protection scheme. This budget is for the development of the poor, for farmers and increasing their income, senior citizens and women: Union Minister Smriti Irani (ANI)
02:40 pm: Defence ministry issues new figure for defence budget; Pegs it at Rs 2.95 lakh crore for 2018-19 (PTI)
02:39 pm: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda says she backs sanctions on North Korea while urging "de-escalation" (The Associated Press)
02:37 pm: It is a balanced budget which is for every section of society, especially the focus on farmers and health services of the poor. Economy will also get a boost. I congratulate PM Modi and FM Jaitley: Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister (ANI)
02:25 pm: Import of solar tempered glass for manufacture of solar cells exempted from customs duty (PTI)
02:24 pm: Customs duty on crude edible vegetable oils like groundnut oil, safflower seed oil hiked from 12.5 pc to 30 pc; on refined edible vegetable oil from 20 pc to 35 pc (PTI)
02:23 pm: Congress candidate Vivek Dhakad wins Mandalgarh assembly seat in Rajasthan (PTI quoting Election Commission source)
02:22 pm: Customs duty on sunglasses, cigarette lighter, toys, bus and truck tyres, select furniture hiked (PTI)
02:21 pm: Customs duty on imitation jewellery hiked from 15 pc to 20 pc; doubled on all watches to 20 pc (PTI)
02:20 pm: Import duty on LCD/LED/OLED panels, parts of TVs hiked to 15 pc; duty on smart watches, wearable devices, footwear doubled to 20 pc (PTI)
02:18 pm: Turkish foreign minister considers France's reminders to Turkey about its operation into Syria an insult (Reuters)
02:15 pm: In the 1 hour 45 minute speech, 1 hour was for the poor, this is indeed historic. The opposition has become too pessimistic: MJ Akbar, Union Minister (ANI)
02:12 pm: Its a grand budget, lot of announcements for the poor, farmers and tribals. This budget will also cement India as a global economic power: HM Rajnath Singh (ANI)
02:09 pm: Import duty on fruit juice raised from 30 pc to 50 pc (PTI)
02:08 pm: Customs duty on perfumes, dental hygiene, after-shave, deodorants, room deodorizers, preparations for use on hair doubled to 20 pc (PTI)
02:07 pm: Duties on petrol, diesel rejigged; basic excise duty lowered by Rs 2 per litre, Rs 6 additional excise duty abolished, but Rs 8 a litre road cess introduced (PTI)
02:06 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tables budget for 2018-19 (PTI)
02:05 pm: Gross budgetary support for Railways hiked to over Rs 3 lakh crore in 2018-19 from Rs 2.73 lakh crore in 2017-18 (PTI)
