FM starts work on the Budget

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is set to hold his first Budget related meeting with 28 financial advisors of various ministries and departments.

The meeting is likely to discuss expenditure and details of unspent balances. The expenditure up to September 30, 2009 along with projected monthly expenditure plan for the rest of the financial year 2009-2010 will be discussed.

Another issue on the agenda is the number of staff cars purchased following the lifting of ban on purchase of cars, (the government is the large buyer of cars, it had bought 1,235 cars last year).

The meeting will also see the furnishing of the quarterly report on the implementation of economic instructions issued by the government, along with the anticipated savings.

Pranab Mukherjee will give directions to the officials involved in the Budget making exercise on Thursday. The Finance Minister is not too happy on the direct and excise tax collection. The figures will be announced in November.

Pranab Mukerjee has also decided to meet agriculturists, traders, labour union leaders and economic editors in December as a part of the Budget making exercise.

He also plans to hold regional conclaves in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore to get suggestions from manufacturing sector in these states.