From boosting infrastructure spending, focusing on fiscal discipline to job creation, a merged Union and railway budget may have a political leitmotif given the assembly elections in five states. Here is a primer to the budget to be presented today at 11am. Railways: This will be for the first time in 92 years that a combined budget will be presented on 1 February after the merger of railway budget with the Union budget. Social sector spending: The Union budget 2017-18 may enhance spending under the flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Spending under MGNREGS, a safety net for the rural sector, is expected to touch a record of Rs58,000 crore in 2016-17.

Source: Mint February 01, 2017 03:07 UTC