To Present Pre-Poll Budget as Arun Jaitley Seeks Treatment in the US
AMN / NEW DELHI
The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, hereby directed that during the period of the indisposition of Arun Jaitley, Minister; the portfolios of Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs held by him, be temporarily assigned to Piyush Goyal, in addition to his existing portfolios.
Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, Arun Jaitley be designated as Minister without portfolio during the period of his indisposition or till such time he is able to resume his work as Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs.
On Monday, kicking off the printing of the official budget documents, finance ministry officials organised the customary ‘halwa ceremony’ and it was the first time since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came into power that Arun Jaitley could not be present for the event.
The Modi government is gearing up for what could be a crucial interim budget. It is reportedly planning important pre-election measures such as a universal income transfer scheme for farmers on the lines of Rythu Bandhu in Telangana.
There is also talk of interest-free bank loans to small farmers with the government bearing the interest burden and raising the exemption limit for income tax-payers.
In May 2018, while Jaitley was unwell and underwent a kidney transplant at the AIIMS in Delhi, Piyush Goyal was asked to head the Finance Ministry.