The top 20 announcements made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget 2022 speech

The Rs 100 lakh-crore PM Gati Shakti Master Plan would oversee large private infrastructure investments. The PM Gati Shakti Master Plan for Expressways will be developed to help people and products move more quickly. To supplement public resources, the National Highway network would be enlarged by 25,000 kilometres and Rs 20,000 crore will be mobilised. During the following three years, around 400 new Vande Bharat trains with improved efficiency and 100 PM Gati Shakti Cargo terminals will be built.

Starting in 2022-23, the RBI will issue digital rupees using blockchain and other technologies, providing a significant boost to the economy.

Any revenue derived from the transfer of any virtual digital asset (cryptocurrencies and NFTs) is subject to a 30% tax rate. Except for the cost of purchase, no deduction in respect of any expenditure or allowance shall be allowed for computing such income. The announcement could imply that the government will not prohibit the use of cryptocurrency.

The administration proposes raising the tax deduction for state government contributions to NPS from 10% to 14% for employees. This will help bring state government personnel up to speed with those in the federal government.

There are no changes to the income tax brackets, but the government does provide individuals the option to amend errors in their forms. Taxpayers now have two years from the end of the assessment year to file an updated return.

Long-term capital gains will be subject to a surcharge that will be capped at 15%.

The National Digital Health Ecosystem will be given an open platform. Digital registries of health practitioners and facilities, a unique health identity, and universal access to health services will all be part of it. A National Tele Mental Health programme will be created to improve access to quality mental health counselling and treatment services, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Private companies will hold a spectrum auction in 2022-23 to put up 5G mobile services. According to a recent press release from the Department of Telecommunications, 13 cities throughout the country, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jamnagar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune, would get 5G in the beginning.

The issuance of e-passports will begin in 2022-23 to improve citizen convenience.

Special mobility zones for electric vehicles will be created, and a battery swapping policy will be designed to allow electric vehicle charging stations for autos.

India will invest an additional Rs 195 billion in solar equipment manufacturing through production-linked incentives.

The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) will be extended until March 2023, with guaranteed insurance increasing by Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 5 lakh crore.

PM eVIDYA's 'One Class, One TV Channel' initiative would be expanded from 12 to 200 television channels. As a result, all states will be able to provide extra education in regional languages to students in grades 1 through 12.

Farmers will be given financial assistance to begin agroforestry. In the first stage, chemical-free natural farming would be promoted across the country, with a concentration on farmers' land in 5 km wide lanes along the Ganga. Wheat procurement in Rabi and anticipated paddy procurement in Kharif will cover 1,208 million metric tonnes of wheat and paddy from 163 million farmers. Direct payment of MSP value to their accounts will cost around Rs 2.37 lakh crore.

Around 68 percent of the defence capital procurement budget will be allocated to domestic industry in order to enhance atmanirbharta (self-reliance) and reduce reliance on defence imports. This is an increase from the previous fiscal year's 58 percent.

A new law for the growth of entrepreneurship and hubs will replace the SEZ (Special Economic Zones) Act. It will encompass existing industrial enclaves and boost export competitiveness.

For procurement, a completely paperless, e-bill system will be implemented, which will be adopted by all central ministries.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, Rs 48,000 crore has been set up for the completion of 80 lakh dwellings under the PM Awas Yojana in rural and urban areas.

The tariff on cut and polished diamonds, as well as jewels, will be decreased to 5%.

The Prime Minister's Development Initiative for the North East will be carried out by the North Eastern Council, with an initial budget of Rs 1,500 crore.

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