THE HEADLINES:

• Top industry bodies and investors hail Union Budget as progressive, prudent and growth-oriented.

• Government announces 66 percent increase in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana outlay to over 79,000 crore rupees.

• First G20 Employment Working Group meeting under India's Presidency to commence at Jodhpur in Rajasthan this afternoon.

• First G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group meeting to also begin in Guwahati today.

• India and US agree to constitute task force to boost cooperation in semiconductor industry.

• In Cricket, India defeat New Zealand by 168 runs in third and final T20 International in Ahmedabad to clinch the series 2-1.

• Indian Women's Team to take on Hosts South Africa in Summit Clash of T20 Tri-Nation Series in East London this evening.

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Industry bodies, investors and common people have hailed the Union Budget 2023-24, calling it progressive, prudent and growth-oriented. 

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) President Subhrakant Panda said, this year's budget is not only significant to the domestic audience but also a move towards placing India as the world's engine of growth.

Talking to AIR News, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President Sanjiv Bajaj said, in the Union Budget strong focus was on agriculture sector, clean energy, and rationalization of income tax slab.

ASSOCHAM President Sumant Sinha said, the announcement made in the budget will improve ease of doing business and help MSME sector.

Common people have also welcomed the budget calling it future vision for the country's development.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2023-24 in Parliament yesterday. Attractive incentives and rebates in the new income tax regime, a steep hike in capital investments, and the biggest ever outlay in railways were the three big takeaways of Budget.

In her Speech, Ms Sitharaman also proposed to use Permanent Account Number (PAN) card as as a common identifier for all digital systems of government agencies.

The Government has also enhanced the outlay for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana by 66 per cent to over 79  thousand crore rupees.

The Defence Ministry has been allocated 5.94 lakh crore rupees in Budget 2023-24. This is 13.18 percent of the total budget, and a jump of 13 percent over previous year.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the allocation of around 2.40 lakh crore to the Railways in the Union Budget will give a push to various infrastructure projects in the country.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi yesterday, Mr Vaishnaw said, 1275 stations would be redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her team for a historic Budget. In his address after the presentation of the Budget, Mr Modi said, the first Union Budget in the Amrit Kaal has established a strong base to fulfill the aspirations and resolutions of a developed India.

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The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will today begin discussions on Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address to the Joint Sitting of both Houses of the Parliament.

In the Lok Sabha, Member Chandra Prakash Joshi will move the motion while another Member Uday Pratap Singh will second the motion.

In the Rajya Sabha, Member K Laxman will move the motion while another Member Prakash Javadekar will second the motion.

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The first G20 Employment Working Group meeting will commence at Jodhpur in Rajasthan this afternoon. More than 80 delegates from 19 countries, European Union and 9 guest countries along with regional and International organisations have reached Jodhpur to participate in the three-day meeting. Our correspondent reports that elaborate arrangements have been made to welcome the delegates.

"The Sun City Jodhpur is all set to host the G-20 Employment Working Group meeting. The guests were welcomed in Rajasthani style by making them wear Jodhpuri safa and the sounds of  traditional music. Elaborate security arrangements have been made and main intersections and other places have been decorated on different themes with public participation. The district administration has also appealed to the residents of the city to decorate their homes and establishments with traditional manners. Jitendra Dwivedi, AIR News, Jodhpur."

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The first G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group meeting under India’s Presidency will begin in Guwahati today. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the two-day meeting. Over 100 delegates from the G20 member countries, guest countries and different international organizations will be attending the meeting. The three main agenda on which deliberation will be held are- Mobilizing timely and adequate resources for climate action; Enabling finance for sustainable development and Capacity building for entire ecosystem of sustainable development.

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The United States has supported the development of a fabrication ecosystem in India in the field of semiconductors. It also encouraged joint ventures and partnerships for mature technology nodes and advanced packaging. Both nations have agreed to constitute a task force involving India’s Semiconductor Mission, India Electronics Semiconductor Association and the US Semiconductor Industry Association. The aim is to develop a readiness assessment to identify near term opportunities and facilitate long term development of semiconductor ecosystems.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.

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In Cricket, India demolished New Zealand by 168 runs in the deciding third and final T20 international at Ahmedabad last evening. Chasing the target of 235 runs, the visitors were bundled out for a paltry score of 66 runs in 12.1 overs. 

Earlier, opting to bat, India posted 234 runs for four in stipulated 20 overs. Shubman Gill hit a ton, scoring unbeaten 126 runs on 63 balls, recording his maiden T20 century for India. Rahul Tripathi posted 44 off 22 balls. With the win, India have won the three-match series 2-1.

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In Women's Cricket, India will take on Hosts South Africa in the Summit Clash of the T20 Tri-Nation Series in East London this evening. The match will start at 6.30 PM Indian time. West Indies is the third team in the tournament.

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TODAY'S NEWSPAPERS

• The Union Budget 2023-24 makes for front page news in all the dailies. "Budget 2023: Vision of prosperous, inclusive India" leads the Statesman.

• Hindustan Times quotes the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as saying" Budget designed to fulfill dreams of all sections." While the Business Standard quoting him writes" 1st budget of "Amrit Kaal' is 'historic', meant for the aspirational."

• "Railways gets first-class berth Hydrogen-powered trains by December" notes the Times of India.

• "Rupees 600 crore set aside for Prasar Bharati revamp" states the Indian Express.

• "Finance Minister moots national digital library to promote reading" reports the Hindu.

• "Adani withdraws FPO, to refund investors after stocks hammered" reports Hindustan Times.

• And finally, "Government gives wing to Udan, to revive 50 airports, heliports" reports the Pioneer.

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AND NOW BEFORE WE END THE BULLETIN, THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.

• Top industry bodies and investors hail Union Budget as progressive, prudent and growth-oriented.

• Government announces 66 percent increase in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana outlay to over 79,000 crore rupees.

• First G20 Employment Working Group meeting under India's Presidency to commence at Jodhpur in Rajasthan this afternoon.

• First G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group meeting to also begin in Guwahati today.

• India and US agree to constitute task force to boost cooperation in semiconductor industry.

• In Cricket, India defeat New Zealand by 168 runs in third and final T20 International in Ahmedabad to clinch the series 2-1.

• And, Indian Women's Team to take on Hosts South Africa in Summit Clash of T20 Tri-Nation Series in East London this evening.

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