The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India

Key Features of Budget 2008-2009

THE ECONOMY : AN OVERVIEW

The Gross Domestic Product increased by 7.5 per cent, 9.4 per cent and 9.6 percent in first three years, of the UPA Government resulting in an unprecedented average growth rate of 8.8 per cent. The drivers of growth continue to be ''services'' and ''manufacturing'' which are estimated to grow at 10.7 per cent and 9.4 per cent respectively.

Growth rate in agriculture for 2007-08 is estimated at 2.6 per cent.

Food grain production in 2007-08, estimated at 219.32 million tonnes-an all time record. Rice production at 94.08 million tonnes, maize at 16.78 million tonnes, soya bean at 9.45 million tonnes, cotton at 23.38 million bales each, an all time record.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana launched with an outlay of Rs. 25,000 crore, National Food Security Mission with an outlay of Rs. 4,882 crore under National Policy for Farmers in the Eleventh Five Year Plan.

THE GROWTH STORY : FASTER AND MORE INCLUSIVE

Agricultural credit poised to reach Rs. 2,40,000 crore by March, 2008.

11.4 crore children covered under Mid Day Meal Scheme, the largest school lunch programme in the world.

Under National Rural Health Mission 8,756 primary health centres have been made 24x7.

1,82,000 girls enrolled in residential schools under Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme.

BHARAT NIRMAN

Bharat Nirman has made impressive progress in 2007-08 with 290 habitations provided with drinking water each day, 17 habitations connected through all weather road, 52 villages provided telephones, 42 villages electrified & 4,113 rural houses completed each day.

ELEVENTH FIVE YEAR PLAN: THE CRUCIAL SECOND YEAR

GBS 2008-09 at Rs.2,43,386 crore higher by Rs. 38,286 crore over 2007-08. Central Plan allocation at Rs.1,79,954 crore, an increase of 16 percent over 2007-08; Bharat Nirman to get Rs. 31,280 crore.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan provided Rs.13,100 crore
with the focus to shift from access and infrastructure at the primary level to enhancing
retention and improving quality of learning. Mid-day Meal to get Rs. 8,000 crore; secondary education to get Rs. 4,554 crore.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya : Rs. 130 crore provided in 2008-09, to establish Navodaya Vidyalaya in 20 districts having large concentration of Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes.

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya: Funds (as part of SSA) provided for additional 410 Vidyalayas in educationally backward areas. Rs. 80 crore allocated to set up new or upgrade existing hostels attached to Balika Vidyalaya.

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship: Rs. 750 crore allocated to build up a corpus of Rs.3,000 crore in four years. 1,00,000 Scholarship to be awarded beginning 2008-09.

Nehru Yuva Kendra: Rs. 10 crore allocated in 2008-09 to set up a Kendra in 123 districts, and to cover recurring expenditure in the first year.