Economic survey for overhauling
tax system
Lays roadmap for 8 per cent growth
New Delhi, July 7
The Economic Survey for 2003-04 today laid down the broad contours of the roadmap for achieving a growth rate of 7 to 8 per cent, but raised pointed questions about the continuation of several politically sensitive policies, including that of the minimum support price and food subsidies.

Highlights
Graphic: State of the Indian Economy
Editorial: On the right track

Nation page Economic survey calls for shift from MSP Economic survey draws attention to poor healthcare Reformulate anti-poverty strategy Business page Economic Survey offers mixed flavour External debt jumps to $112 b More related stories on Business page Mr Ashok Lahiri, Economic Adviser to the Finance Minister, leaves Parliament House after submitting the Economic Survey report 2003-2004 in New Delhi on Wednesday. — PTI photo

Budget today
IT exemption limit may be raised to Rs 1 lakh
New Delhi, July 7
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram will present the first Budget of the UPA government tomorrow amidst expectations about a major thrust to the rural economy, infrastructure and small-scale industry.

10,000 cr hike in defence outlay likely
New Delhi, July 7
Defence will remain high on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s priority list with a whopping Rs 10,000 crore increase expected in this year’s budgetary allocation over last year’s revised estimates.

NDA to boycott only ‘tainted’ ministers
New Delhi, July 7
The NDA today decided to adopt the strategy of selective boycott of all “tainted” ministers including Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav in both Houses of Parliament even as its MPs participated in the discussion on the Railway Budget and other issues.

Editorial: No stalling

Five new Punjab ministers sworn in
Chandigarh, July 7
The Punjab Governor, Justice O P Verma (retd), today administered the oath of office and secrecy to five new members of the Council of Ministers at Raj Bhavan. Of them three were of Cabinet-rank and two ministers of state.

Hurriyat chief Ansari steps down
Srinagar, July 7
Moulvi Abbas Ansari, chief of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, announced his decision to step down from the post of chairman of the conglomeration here today and asked Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to resume unity efforts.
In video (28k, 56k)

No proposal to send troops to Iraq: PM New Delhi, July 7 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today categorically stated in the Lok Sabha that there was no change in his government’s policy on Iraq and said there was “no proposal to send troops to Iraq”. In video (28k, 56k)