Digital India Initiative

What is it?  

It has long been Modi’s dream to serve India via e- governance. The Digital India initiative aims to connect rural regions and remote villages ensuring that they too have high-speed Internet services. With this ambitious project, villagers will not have to travel long distances to the concerned departments. 

The Digital India programme is a transformed version of the already running National e-Governance Plan. The project aims to provide thrust to nine pillars identified as growth areas. These pillars include - broadband highways, everywhere mobile connectivity, Public Internet Access Programme, e-Governance, e-Kranti (which aims to give electronic delivery of services), information for all, electronics manufacturing, IT for Jobs and early harvest programmes. The project is expected to be completed by 2019. 

India's Union Budget 2014

Here are the highlights of Union Budget 2014:


* Tax proposals on indirect tax front would yield Rs 7,525 crore.

* ​Indian Custom Single Window Project to be taken up for facilitating trade.

* Clean energy cess increased from Rs 50/ tonne to Rs 100/tonne.

* Additional 5% excise tax to be levied on aerated drinks with added sugar (cold drinks). Tobacco products also to get costly as excise duty hiked to 72%

* Government announces reduction in excise duty for specified food package industry from 10% to 6%.

*​ Excise duty on footwear reduced from 12% to 6%