Piyush Goyal To Present Interim Budget On 1 February After Getting Temporary Charge Due To Jaitley’s Ill Health

Owing to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s ongoing medical treatment in the United States, Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal will present the interim budget on 1 Feburary 2019, reports Business Standard (BS).

The interim budget will the last one presented by the current NDA government led by Prime Minister Modi, before the 2019 general elections in April. Goyal has been entrusted with both finance and corporate affairs ministries as an interim measure until Jaitley returns from the US.

A communique issued by the President at 8.55 pm on Wednesday (23 January) stated that Piyush Goyal “be designated as minister without portfolio during the period of his indisposition or till such time he (Arun Jaitley) is able to resume his work as minister of finance and minister of corporate affairs.”

The 66-year old Jaitley, who had unexpectedly left for the US on 13 January, has been advised two weeks rest by the doctors after undergoing surgery at a hospital in New York.

Full Budget, Farm Focused

It was reported on 18 January that the government was intending to present a full-fledged interim budget instead of a vote on account, which is usually the case in an election year.

Also, the government was considering a proposal to provide a Rs 60,000-crore financial package as income support to farmers as a scheme expected to be announced in the Budget.

Also Read: Plugging The Deficit Hole: RBI To Pay Rs 40,000 Crore Interim Dividend To Government By March 2019