The government could roll back the service tax that has been imposed on 25 bed hospitals and diagnostic centers.

The budget presentation evinces keen interest among all sections of the society ever since the Narasimha Rao government set off economic reforms in 1991. Ritwika Sen writes.

Audio and video CDs, readymade garments, and even branded jewellery could become marginally dearer, besides 130 other items including tea, coffee and biscuits. HT reports. Service tax in a new avatar

You may now have to pay more insurance premium with the  finance minister proposing to levy service tax on investment component of traditional life insurance policies. HT reports.

The New Pension System (NPS), languishing for lack of sufficient support, got a boost on Monday from the finance minister, as the budget lined up tax breaks for both employers and employees in addition to the existing ones to encourage pension contributions. HT reports.

From a personal savings and investments perspective, the budget has been a low-impact event, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Dhirendra Kumar writes.

Loans for affordable homes are set to get cheaper with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday extending the limit of priority home loans in his budget speech. HT reports.

The budget presented by our finance minister in the Parliament on Monday is technocratic and modern. Sailesh Haribhakti writes.

Salary earners having an income of less than Rs. 5 lakh a year will not need to file tax returns from this year, a finance ministry official said. HT reports.

The two ITs — income tax, and information technology — are set to come together in an even greater partnership, going by the finance minister’s budget announcements. HT reports.

Giving special treatment to senior citizens, Pranab Mukherjee announced the creation of a new category of ‘Very Senior Citizens’— 80 years and above — and has offered an exemption limit of upto Rs. 5 lakh on their net taxable income beginning fiscal 2012. HT reports.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee left the salaried class looking for more. HT reports.

The finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee presented his fifth budget (third in a series) in an upbeat mood on account of the swift and broad-based growth that the Indian economy has achieved in 2010-11. M Lakshminarayanan writes.

With five states heading for assembly elections in two months, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's budget on Monday is sure to keep the aam admi on top of the government's agenda.