Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has passed his General Budget examination with "flying colours".
Terming the Union Budget as "pro-farmer, pro-poor and pro-reform", the home minister said it outlined the central government's priorities and the prime minister's vision.
"If the Union Budget were like annual exams for our prime minister, then I must say he has passed the exams with flying colours," Mr Singh said in an official statement in New Delhi.
"The Budget gives the government an opportunity to deepen the economic foundation and widen the infrastructure network of our country."
"Strengthening rural economy and providing income security to the farmers has been given top priority in this year's Budget. Introduction of 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' coupled with the allocation of Rs 20,000 crore to improve irrigation facilities in India will boost the farm sector," Mr Singh said.
He said the highest-ever target of Rs 9 lakh crore as agriculture loans to farmers and highest ever allocation of Rs 38,500 crore to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme is bound to benefit rural economy.
Increasing the allocation of funds to 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana' to Rs 19,000 crore is a big step to boost rural infrastructure, he added.
In his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, PM Modi told students appearing in their final board exams from March 1 said that he too will appear in examination on Monday, alluding to the presentation of the coming fiscal's Budget.
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