SPEECH OF SHRI C D DESHMUKH
MINISTER OF FINANCE
INTRODUCING THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 1953-54
Dated : February 27, 1953
I rise to present
the statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government
of India for the year 1953-54.
REVIEW OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
2. Judging from the available information and taking an overall view, the
nine months which have elapsed since I presented the budget for the current
year to this House last may have witnessed a marked improvement in the economic
conditions in the country. Prices have, on the whole, remained steady at lower
levels, industrial as well as agricultural production has shown an increase,
while the balance of payments position has also been slightly more favourable
than in the preceding year.
3. The general index number of wholesale prices which stood at 432.2 points
at the end of December 1951 fell to 374.5 points by the end of December 1952,
a drop of 57.7 points or a little over 13 per cent. The downward movement
of prices, however, was not uniform during the course of the year. In the
first four months there was a somewhat precipitate drop resulting from a combination
of international factors, purposeful fiscal and monetary policy and the inevitable
collapse of speculative overtrading. These marked the transition from a sellers
to a buyers market, as a consequence of which accumulated stocks, especially
in the export trade, were unloaded and prices were depressed to a level which
was neither sustainable nor healthy. There was a general revival of prices
after the initial set back and by the end of September the index number rose
by about 7 per cent. Since then prices have been more or less steady, the
fluctuations being within narrow limits. The index number of raw material
prices is also about 25 per cent lower than at the end of December 1951. Food
prices have, on the whole, also remained steady although during the middle
of the year there was a slight upward movement, the index number of cereals
rising to 467 points and of all food articles to 377.6 points. There has been
a significant drop since then and by the middle of January the index number
had dropped to 355.6 points.
4. The food situation was also much easier than in the preceding year. From
about the beginning of 1952 the stock position showed a marked improvement
and prices were easier, in sympathy with the recession in the commodity markets,
and off take from government shops showed a decline. In the light of these
favourable circumstances certain relaxations in food controls were allowed
from the middle of the year onwards in a number of States. These relaxations
were intended to minimise the irksome features of food controls without running
the risk of having to increase imports of food or encouraging any undue rise
in prices. The relaxations, it may be emphasised, are only in the nature of
adjustments within the framework of the basic policy and do not imply any
departure from the policy of general control of foodgrains as long as pockets
of scarcity persist and the need to import foodgrains continues. These relaxations
were not followed by any panicky or precipitate rise in prices but certain
deficit areas were provided with imported foodgrains by the Centre, issued
at prices considerably lower than their real cost. Thanks to the American
wheat loan, at the end of 1952 Government carried a comfortable stock of foodgrains,
and the programme of imports for the current year provides for a smaller volume
of imports than in the last two years. The possibility of progressively reducing
imports appears to be distinctly within our reach.
5. Industrial production during 1952 was also satisfactory. In spite of the
reduction of working hours last April and the comparative slackness in demand
the production of jute goods during the year rose to 978,000 tons, an increase
of 69,000 tons over the previous year. While the demand for hessian remains
reasonably stable there has been a decline in the world demand for sacking,
which is causing some concern to the industry, but which may prove to be temporary.
The cotton textile industry achieved a record production of 4,600 million
yards. The industry is now able to meet the internal demands in full and the
continuous maintenance of production at this level will, to some extent, depend
on the quantity of cloth which can be exported. The improvement in production
made it possible to achieve a considerable measure of decontrol of prices
and the practically complete decontrol of distribution. The industry has been
assisted in striving to maintain its position in the export markets against
the increasing competition of other countries by the recent reduction in the
export duty, which may be taken to be more or less a long term measure. The
production of steel was also higher than in the previous year, although the
production, at 1.15 million tons, is still far below the country’s needs.
Coal and sugar production also touched new records. Cement production rose
to 3.5 million tons, an increase of 300,000 tons over the previous year and
2 million tons over the production in 1948. There was also an increase in
the production of a number of other commodities such as paper, caustic soda,
power) alcohol, plywood, rayon yarn and sewing machines. A number of new industries
came into production for the first time last year. Among these may be mentioned
industrial boilers, power presses, fluorescent tubes and a number of drugs
and chemicals.
6. Among essential raw materials the production of cotton and jute also showed
an increase in 1951-52, the production of the former rising to 31.3 lakh bales
and of the latter to 46.8 lakh bales.
7. While the all round increase in production has been an encouraging development
it would be rash to assume that all these trends will continue in the future.
In the case of sugar, a fall in production is already apprehended. The engineering
industries need close attention, as they appear to be the first to be affected
by any unfavourable trend. Certain industries in the country have also been
facing special difficulties. The handloom industry, which provides livelihood
for considerable sections of the population, particularly in the countryside,
has been hit by a slump. As a temporary measure of assistance to the industry
the production of dhoties by mills has been limited to 60 per cent of the
production in the year 1951-52. A Handloom Board has been established recently
and legislation is being undertaken to raise funds for assisting the handloom
and khadi industries by levying a small cess on mill-made cloth. The tea industry
is another industry which has been adversely affected by recent developments
in the world market. For many years this industry was insulated from the impact
of competitive market conditions by the system of bulk purchases by Britain,
under which a cross section of the crop of every garden was purchased at prices
which allowed for all increases in the cost of production. Under the sheltered
condition tea production increased from 450 million pounds in 1939 to a little
over 600 million pounds in 1952. With the termination of the bulk purchase
arrangements by Britain and the recent fall in tea prices considerable distress
has been caused to the industry and some tea gardens have been closed down.
A team of officials enquired into the conditions of the industry sometime
ago and the recommendations made by them have been under discussion with the
two State Governments primarily concerned and representatives of the industry.
Government have
been giving continuous consideration to the problems of the tea industry and
certain ameliorative measures have already been taken. A system of guarantees
to scheduled and apex co-operative banks with a view to inducing them to extend
credit facilities to the tea gardens during the 1953-54 season was announced
last December. Reasonable time has been allowed for the payment of the excise
duty after the clearance of the tea from the gardens and the smaller growers
have been exempted from liability for advance payment of income-tax. A Committee,
which will include a member with intimate knowledge of labour problems, is
being appointed, with very wide terms of reference, to go into the cost structure
of the tea industry. We have also been in consultation with the State Governments
in regard to the supply of food to the gardens and some assistance has already
been given by the Governments of West Bengal and Assam. The problem of conversion
of food grain concessions into cash concessions is largely a matter for direct
negotiation between employers and labour and it may be hoped that a suitable
arrangement will be reached at the next meeting of the tripartite Committee
on Plantation Labour. There has also been an improvement in the prices of
tea and Government are exploring the possibilities of stimulating the demand
for Indian tea in outside countries by more effective propaganda. Recently
an agreement on this subject has been reached between India, Indonesia, Ceylon
and the United States tea trade.
8. The fall in prices has had the inevitable consequence of reducing income
in certain sectors but more significant, perhaps, than this is the fact that
the possibilities of large or quick profits by traders and middlemen have
been reduced. While with production at its present level there is little possibility
of any unemployment in industrial labour, the contraction of profits in trade
and commerce is, perhaps, having the effect of creating some measure of unemployment
in the urban areas. Agricultural labour has also not been materially affected
by the fall in prices except in the tea gardens where some amount of unemployment
seems inevitable if the marginally uneconomic gardens have to close down.
The House may rest assured that Government will do whatever they can to minimise
the extent of distress in this field. Taking a somewhat longer view it may
be hoped that as, the various development schemes get under way they will
provide increasing scope for employment. The effect of the fall in prices
on production and employment will also be constantly kept under observation.
It should be remembered that while marginal changes in the employment situation
come to notice and can, in some cases, be studied with a view to correction,
the basic situation in regard to employment and under-employment in the country
is one that calls for long term measures for its correction and that such
correction could only be gradual, specially in view of the increasing population.
BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
9. When I reviewed the balance of payments position at the time of presenting
the budget last May, I drew the attention of the House ‘to the deterioration
in our position during 1951 and the first four months of 1952. But the first
half of 1952, taken as a whole, showed an improvement as compared with the
previous year, the deficit in payments on current account having declined
from Rs.92 crores in the last six months of 1951 to Rs.74 crores. Payments
for imports during the first half of 1952 amounted to Rs.442 crores. Export
receipts were Rs.315 crores and net invisible receipts Rs.53 crores. A part
of the deficit during this period was met from the proceeds of the American
loan for the purchase of wheat and the balance from the Sterling Balances.
10. Against a deficit of Rs.74 crores during the first half of 1952, there
was a surplus of Rs.28 crores during the succeeding three months, leaving
for the first nine months of 1952 a net deficit of Rs.46 crores. Figures for
subsequent months are not yet available but the trend noticed in the third
quarter of 1952 appears to have been maintained. This is broadly reflected
in the increase in the Sterling balances held by the Reserve Bank which have
risen from Rs.600 crores at the end of last September to Rs.720 crores in
the middle of February.
DOLLAR POSITION
11. India's dollar position during the first half of 1952 showed some deterioration
over the previous half year, the amounts drawn by her from the Sterling Area's
gold and dollar reserves rising to $188 million against $30 million in the
previous half year. This was mainly due to larger payments for foodgrains
and cotton from dollar sources. In the latter half of 1952 there was, as I
anticipated in my budget speech, some improvement. The preliminary figures
for the five months ended November 1952, indicate that India contributed about
$63 million to the Central Pool. This change in the dollar position was largely
responsible for the improvement in the country's overall balance of payments
during the third quarter of 1952 which I mentioned earlier.
12. I shall now mention briefly the various factors responsible for these
change in our balance of payments. At the end of 1951 there was a movement
towards tighter credit and a reduction in expenditure generally. The increase
in bank credit during the busy season of 1951-52 was much smaller than usual
and amounted to only about Rs.100 crores against nearly twice that amount
in the busy season of the previous year. This, combined with the general decline
in the international prices of a number of raw materials and other commodities,
tended to reduce the level of prices in the country, particularly in the early
months of 1952. Thus the general index number of wholesale prices which averaged
416 in February 1952 registered a sharp decline to 365- by the middle of March,
the fall in prices being more pronounced in industrial raw materials, India's
exports, therefore, showed a fall while at the same time large payments had
to be made for imports of raw cotton and food, payments for the former amounting
to Rs.79 crores and for the latter to Rs.121 crores.
13. The position in the latter half of 1952 showed an improvement for a variety
of reasons. Firstly, the export regulations were liberalised about the middle
of the year to arrest the fall in export earnings noticed in the earlier months.
Secondly, the export duties were reduced and in several cases altogether removed.
Thirdly, the export quotas for a number of commodities were increased and
restrictions on the export of cotton textiles and some other commodities were
relaxed. These measures assisted materially in the revival of the country's
exports. Foreign buyers no longer sat on the fence in the expectation of a
reduction in export duties, but re-entered the market, though rather late.
The payments for food and cotton imports were also much smaller than in the
previous half year.
14. International trade and payments are, as the House is aware, affected
by variety of complex factors and developments in the international field
about which it is, as I have mentioned more than once in this House, most
difficult to prognosticate. But I think it very likely that the coming months
may not be as favourable as the last six months of 1952. The increase in the
export earnings in recent months is partly due to a carry over of orders from
the previous period. There has been a further decline in the prices of our
principal exports, particularly jute manufactures and oil seeds. A number
of countries have also placed restrictions on imports. Lastly, the import
policy for the first half of the current year allows for some liberalisation
in the imports of a number of items which were restricted hitherto. Food purchases
are also likely to increase our external payments.
15. Hon'ble Members will recall the statement I made in Parliament during
the last session about the conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers held
in London last November. The problem of arresting the drain on the dollar
and gold reserves of the Sterling Area has been in the forefront during recent
months. As a result of the measures taken by the Commonwealth Governments,
following their meeting in London in January 1952, the drain on the Central
Reserves was halted and to some extent reversed. These reserves, which had
dropped from $2,335 million at the end of 1951 to $1,700 million at the end
of March 1952, fell only by a small sum of $15 million during the subsequent
quarter. Since then there has been a slight increase in the reserves which
stood at $1,846 million at the end of December 1952. The contribution made
by us to this improvement has been mentioned earlier, but the periodical crises
faced by the Sterling Area in recent years point to the necessity for long-term
measures, rather than temporary palliatives. As the Conference held in January
1952 recognised, the real key to the problem lies in the expansion of world
production and trade and in making an advance towards sterling convertibility
as early as possible. The conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers agreed
that the Sterling Area countries should follow sound internal economic policies,
and that individual countries should aim at economic development with the
object of increasing their productive and competitive strength and co-operate
with the other trading countries. As I have already stated in this House,
agreement on these points does not involve the adoption of any new policy
by the Government of India. India's internal policies are already geared to
the tasks laid down by the conference. The implementation of the Five Year
Plan is expected to enable India to play her part in the expansion of world
trade and increasing her production. By helping herself India will be helping
not only the countries- of the Sterling Area but also the rest of the world
in the expansion of production and trade.
16. Before I pass on to other matters I should like briefly to mention the
progress made in our negotiations with the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development for loans for some of our development projects. Following
the visit to this country early last year of the President of the International
Bank several officials of the Bank have visited this country to consider the
various schemes for which we had asked for assistance. Two missions from the
Bank came to assess the requirements of the industrial Finance Corporation.
Missions also investigated the possibilities of assisting the development
of steel production and certain irrigation projects under the Damodar Valley
Corporation. A number of officials from India also visited the United States
for discussion with the authorities of the Bank. As a result of these discussions,
the Bank have agreed to the grant of a loan of $31.5 million to the Indian
Iron & Steel Company and $19.5 million for the Damodar Valley Corporation.
The loan to the Steel Company, which has been guaranteed by the Government
of India, will carry interest at 4 3/4 per cent and will be repayable in 15
years. The loan for the Damodar Valley Corporation will carry interest at
4 7/8 per cent and will be repayable in 25 years. The negotiations for a loan
to the industrial Finance Corporation are nearing completion and an agreement
is expected to be concluded shortly.
17. Discussions were also held last year with the authorities of the International
Monetary Fund about the continued retention of the existing restrictions in
payments and transfers for current international transactions with a view
to enabling the Fund to decide whether the existing exchange restrictions
were justified. I am glad to say that the Fund has agreed that, in the exceptional
circumstances governing India’s external payments position, these restrictions
may be continued.
18. In accordance with the usual procedure of the International Monetary Fund
a Mission consisting of technical experts from the Fund is at present on a
visit to this country. The Mission is making a close study of the Five Year
Plan and the fiscal, monetary and economic policies of the country. I have
no doubt that their objective view of the efforts which we are making to sustain
the economy of the country and for its orderly development would help us to
ensure that resources for implementing our Five Year Plan are raised in an
optimum manner and may perhaps encourage external assistance on lines entirely
acceptable to us.
19. While on the subject of external assistance for development, I would like
to mention the assistance received by us from the United States Technical
Co-operation Administration. A sum of $38.35 million was provided this year
for the extension of projects already undertaken and for such additional projects
as may be agreed upon. In furtherance of the objectives of the Colombo Plan,
the Governments of Australia, Canada and New Zealand agreed to provide a further
sum of about $20 million. We have also received a contribution of about Rs.67
lakhs from the Government of Norway for some of our development schemes. I
take the opportunity of expressing our appreciation to these friendly nations.
FINANCE COMMISSION
20. Before I deal with the revised estimates for the current year and the
budget estimates for the coming year, I should like to refer to the report
of the Finance Commission, which has already been placed before both Houses
of Parliament. The House will remember that in accordance with the recommendations
made by the Commission, in their First Report submitted to the President in
December 1951, the budget for the current year was framed on the basis that
the arrangements which were in force at the time in regard to the allocation
of revenue between the Centre and the States and the payments of grants-in-aid
to them will be maintained during the current year, subject to the condition
that the decision taken on the final recommendations of the Commission would
be given effect to from the 1st April, 1952. As Hon'ble Members are
aware, the recommendations of the Commission in their final report have been
accepted in their entirety by Government. These recommendations involve the
assignment of a larger share of income-tax to the States, the allocation of
40 per cent of the net proceeds of the Union duties of excise on tobacco,
matches and vegetable, products to the States and the payment of increased
and additional grants-in-aid to a number of States. The net effect of these
recommendations is to transfer, on an average, a sum of the order of Rs.21
crores a year more than at present to the States by way of devolution of revenue
and grants-in-aid. Except in regard to two matters in which the Commission
themselves have suggested that their recommendations should take effect from
the next financial year, the recommendations of the Commission are being given
effect to from the current year and the revised estimates for this year and
the budget estimates for the next year take this into account.
21. I do not propose to dilate at length on the recommendations of the Commission
as their report has already been circulated to the Members of both Houses
and details, as they affect the various heads of revenue and expenditure,
will be found in the Explanatory Memorandum circulated with the Budget Papers.
I would, however, like to take this opportunity of placing on record Government's
appreciation of the valuable work done by the Commission. As the first Commission
set up under the Constitution, entrusted with the delicate task of adjudicating
between the claims of so many Governments, they had a difficult and onerous
responsibility and I am sure all sections of the House and the public outside
would join me in paying a tribute to the impartial and objective manner in
which the Commission have dealt with the problems placed before them.
FINANCIAL YEAR 1952-53
22. In the current year's budget I had provided for a surplus on revenue account
of Rs.3.73 crores. I now expect that this surplus will be converted into a
deficit of Rs.3.79 crores. This is the result of an increase of Rs.13.66 crores
in revenue and a worsening of Rs.21.18 crores in expenditure met from revenue.
REVENUE
23. The total revenue for the year is now estimated at Rs.418.64 crores against
the budget estimate of Rs.404.98 crores. The improvement in revenue is largely
due to better receipts from customs and income-tax. The revenue from import
duties is now placed at Rs.120 crores, a drop of Rs.5 crores in the sum expected
to be collected when the budget was framed. Export duties however, have been
somewhat better than expected and against the estimate of Rs.40 crores I now
expect that the collections will amount to Rs.551/2 crores. The House will
remember that in view of the uncertainty regarding the income that could be
expected from this source, which depends so largely upon developments in the
world markets, and the need, from time to time, of having to adjust these
duties to enable us to maintain our position in the overseas markets, we had
assumed that there will be a substantial drop in the revenue from export duties
this year as compared with the previous year. Actually, while there has been
a drop, it has beep much smaller than we had reason to expect at the time
the budget was framed. Collections of income-tax are also likely to show an
improvement of Rs.15 crores of which corporation tax will account for Rs.9.3
crores and income-tax for Rs.5.7 crores. This improvement is largely due to
larger collections as a result of the drive for the speeding up of assessments
and the clearance of arrears which has been in operation for sometime.
The revenue from Union excises is now placed at Rs.80 crores against the budget
estimate of Rs.86 crores, the drop being largely due to smaller collections
of the duty on cotton cloth and to a small decrease in the revenue from tobacco.
In the budget credit had been taken for a recovery of Rs.9 crores from Pakistan
as the first instalment of its debt repayment to India but as it has not yet
been possible to reach an agreement on the provisional amount of the partition
debt, this payment is likely to be carried forward to the budget year. Under
other heads it is not expected that there will be any substantial change compared
with the budget. The payment to the States of their share of income-tax is
now likely to be about Rs.6 crores more than was provided in the budget, partly
owing to the increase in collections mentioned earlier and partly to the acceptance
of the recommendations of the Finance Commission.
EXPENDITURE
24. Expenditure met from revenue in the current year is now placed at Rs.422.43
crores against the budget estimate of Rs.401.25 crores. Defence Services account
for Rs.192.73 crores and Civil expenditure for Rs.229.70 crores.
25. Under Defence Services the drop of Rs.5.22 crores is due mainly to the
non-receipt of supplies from abroad to the extent anticipated in the budget.
Under Civil heads, the expenditure is now expected to exceed the budget by
Rs.26.4 crores. This increase is largely accounted for by the additional payments
to the States under the Finance Commission's recommendations and increased
expenditure on food subsidies. The revised estimates include a provision of
Rs.16.42 crores for payments to the States as their share of the Union duties
of excise on tobacco, matches and vegetable products. Grants-in-aid to the
States under Articles 273,275 and 278 of the Constitution are expected to
amount to Rs.2.98 crores more than was provided in the budget, these will
cover increased payments to the States recommended by the Finance Commission.
Expenditure on food subsidies, for which the budget had provided Rs.15 crores,
is now placed at Rs.21 crores. Other variations as compared with the budget
are not likely to be substantial and have been explained in the Memorandum
circulated with the budget Papers.
FINANCIAL YEAR 1953-54
26. At the existing level of taxation the revenue for the coming year is estimated
at Rs.437.76 crores and the expenditure met from revenue at Rs.438. 81 crores,
leaving a deficit of Rs.1. 05 crores.
REVENUE
27. I have mentioned earlier the difficulty in making an estimate of the revenue
from customs duties. Against the sum of Rs.177 crores which we expect to collect
in the current year, I have assumed Rs.170 crores for the budget year. The
revenue from import duties may be expected to be about the same as in the
current year and to bring in Rs.118 crores. The revenue from export duties
this year was somewhat higher than expected and I do not think that in the
present circumstances it would be realistic to provide for the maintenance
of the revenue at the level reached in the current year. I have assumed a
drop of Rs.41/2 crores in the revenue from this source and have placed the
total revenue from customs duties at Rs.170 crores. Under Union excises, I
have taken Rs.94 crores against the revised estimate of Rs.80 crores. The
increase of Rs.14 crores provides for Rs.6 crores from the cess on mill-made
cloth levied for the benefit of the khadi and handloom industry and Rs.3 crores
from the proceeds of the special excise on sugar which was recently imposed.
An improvement of Rs.3 crores in the revenue from the excise duty on cloth
has also been assumed; small improvements under other heads account for the
balance of Rs.2 crores. The total revenue from income-tax has been placed
at Rs.160 crores a drop of Rs.10 crores on the revised which is mainly accounted
for by the drop in the revenue from voluntary disclosures and the contraction
in the post-war refunds of excess profits tax and the income-tax collected
on them. Under Currency and mint the profits from the Reserve Bank are expected
to amount to Rs.12.5 crores against Rs.7. 5 crores this year. Credit has been
taken for the recovery from Pakistan of two instalments of its partition debt
to India, one instalment representing a carry over from the current year.
The net surplus of the Posts and Telegraphs Department will also be Rs.1 crore
less. The estimates under the other heads largely follow the revised estimates.
EXPENDITURE
28. Expenditure met from revenue next year is estimated at Rs.438.81 crores,
an increase of Rs.16.38 crores over the revised estimate for the current year.
Expenditure on Defence Services has been placed at Rs.199.84 crores and Civil
expenditure at Rs.238.97 crores.
29. Of the total expenditure of Rs.199.84 crores next year on Defence Services,
Rs.148.18 crores will be on the Army, Rs.11.07 crores on the Navy, Rs.25.2
crores on the Air Force and Rs.15.39 crores on non-effective charges. The
increases over the revised estimates are mainly in respect of the Navy and
the Air Force which, as the House is aware, are expanding Services.
30. In considering the estimates of expenditure on Defence I must repeat,
what I have said on more than one occasion in the past, that there can be
no question of any large-scale reduction in the size of the Armed Forces so
long as there is any danger to the country's security. While this overriding
consideration exists, I can hold out no hope of any substantial reduction
in Defence expenditure in the immediate future. Nevertheless, our aim has
been, and continues to be, to maintain the minimum forces essential for the
country's security. The House will recall that, while presenting the budget
for the current year, I mentioned that a critical examination of the organisation
and equipment of the Armed Forces had been undertaken in order to see what
economies could be effected in Defence expenditure. This critical examination
will, more or less, be a continuous process. The conclusions so far reached
in regard to the scales of equipment of certain establishments and the reorganisation
of some services are of considerable importance from the point of view of
ultimate economy and, although I cannot say that the estimates for the coming
year reflect very much of this, I am confident that in course of time they
will yield appreciable savings. While, as I have mentioned earlier, the requirements
of national security set the limit to expenditure on defence, the search for
economy within this limitation will continue to be assiduously pursued.
31. Civil expenditure next year is estimated at Rs.238.97 crores against Rs.229.70
crores in the current year. The current year's estimate includes a provision
of Rs.21 crores for food subsidies and Rs.4 crores for the payment of compensation
to sugar factories to cover the reduction in price of stocks of the 1951-52
production. It has been decided not to subsidise food any longer from revenue
and no provision is being made in the budget for next year on this account.
Excluding these two special items civil expenditure next year will be Rs.341/2
crores more than the corresponding figure in the current year. This increase
is mainly due to larger provision for a number of development items. Among
these I would mention the provision of Rs.2 crores for basic and social education,
Rs.6 crores for transfer to the fund for the development of the handloom industry,
Rs.1 crore for the development of small scale industry, Rs.4 crores for industrial
housing, Rs.6.33 crores for community projects, Rs.1 crore for the uplift
of the backward classes, Rs.3 crores for local works, Rs.50 lakhs for the
national extension organisation and Rs.1.5 crores for grants to certain States
for the expansion of primary education recommended by the Finance Commission.
Expenditure on the relief of displaced persons is also expected to be about
Rs.1 crore more than in the current year. Increased provision has also been
made for research expenditure, grants to the Council of Scientific and industrial
Research and grants for the development of scheduled areas and tribes.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
32. The current year's budget made a provision of Rs.79 crores for capital
expenditure, including a transfer of Rs.10 crores to the Special Development
Fund from the sale proceeds of American wheat. The transfer to the latter
Fund, is now expected to amount to Rs.26. 57 crores and, excluding this, the
capital expenditure will amount to Rs.49 crores. Loans to State Governments
for development, rehabilitation of displaced persons and relief of famine
this year, will amount to Rs.117 crores against Rs.104 crores provided in
the budget. The provision for capital outlay in the revised estimates has
largely been regulated with reference to the progress of expenditure on the
various schemes. The reduction of Rs.20 crores in the expenditure is mainly
due to a saving of Rs.8.29 crores in the provision for defence capital outlay
and Rs.8.15 crores in the provision for capital outlay on industrial development,
mainly in the provision for development of the shipping industry and the setting
up of a steel plant. In addition to loans for various capital projects and
Grow More Food schemes, a provision of Rs.6 crores has been made for ways
and means assistance to State Governments in connection with works undertaken
for the relief of famine and scarcity.
33. For next year, a total provision of Rs.77 crores has been made for capital
outlay and Rs.131 crores for loans to State Governments, including loans from
the Special Development Fund. The provision for capital outlay includes Rs.19
crores for Railways, Rs.7.6 crores for Posts and Telegraphs, Rs.6.75 crores
for industrial Development, Rs.21/4 crores for the development of Civil Aviation,
Rs.31/4 crores for the development of Major Ports, Rs.3.73 crores for the
Central share of expenditure on River Valley Schemes, Rs.17.81 crores for
Civil Works, including communications, Rs.1.59 crores for capital outlay on
New Delhi and Rs.15 crores for capital outlay on Defence. Included in the
provision for loans to States are Rs.10.3 crores for the rehabilitation of
displaced persons, Rs.11 crores for Community Development Schemes, Rs.46.27
crores for River Valley Schemes and Rs.27.86 crores for Grow More Food Schemes.
34. As in the past, the provision for development and capital expenditure
in the budget broadly follows the plan suggested by the Planning Commission.
The final report of the Commission, which was issued after the last budget
was presented to Parliament, now places the total expenditure in the public
sector at Rs.2,069 crores, an increase of Rs.276 crores over the figure envisaged
in the first Draft of the Plan issued by the Commission. Of this total expenditure,
Rs.361 crores will be on agriculture and community development Rs.168 crores
on irrigation, Rs.266 crores on multipurpose irrigation and power projects,
Rs.127 crores on power, Rs.497 crores on transport and communications, Rs.173
crores on industry, Rs.340 crores on social services, Rs.85 crores for rehabilitation
and Rs.52 crores on other miscellaneous items. Against this plan, which covers
a period of five years ending March 1956, the total expenditure in the first
two years, taking the States and Centre together, is expected to be of the
order of Rs.600 crores. So far as the Central budget is concerned, the provision
in the budget for next year has been made having in mind, among other considerations,
the need for raising the tempo of expenditure, so as to secure that in the
third year of the Plan the phase of development envisaged by the Commission
is, as far as possible, attained.
WAYS AND MEANS
35. The current year’s budget provided for an overall deficit of Rs.76
crores to be met from the opening cash balance of Rs.159 crores, leaving at
the end of the year a balance of Rs.83 crores. The revised estimates indicate
that the overall deficit would be slightly higher at Rs.83 crores, leaving
a closing balance of Rs.80 crores at the end of the year. No loans fell due
for repayment in the current year and although in the budget credit had been
taken for a market loan of Rs.25 crores no loan was actually floated, so as
to leave the market free for the States to borrow for their development schemes.
This shortfall in the estimate will, however, be more than offset by increased
receipts from the proceeds of the Americal Wheat Loan and under the Colombo
Plan and Technical Co-operation Administration Assistance. Receipts from small
savings will, in the aggregate, be up to the original estimate. The ways and
means position was also eased by the resumption of treasury bill sales to
the market which are expected to yield a net sum of Rs.5 crores or so this
year.
36. For next year, the budget provides for an overall deficit of Rs.140 crores.
During the year Government have the option of repaying the 3% loan 1953-55
with an outstanding balance of Rs.115 crores. It is proposed to exercise this
option and I have assumed, taking into account this discharge, that it would
be possible to raise a market loan of the order of Rs.100 crores. Credit has
been taken for receipt through small savings of Rs.45 crores, more or less
on the same scale as at present, although steps are being taken to intensify
the savings movement and achieve a bigger target. The benefit of any such
increase will however accrue to the States and not to the Centre; at the recent
Conference of Finance Ministers it was agreed that the States should be assisted
by the diversion to them of the equivalent of any part of the net receipts
from small savings in excess of Rs.45 crores.
37. The overall deficit of Rs.140 crores which I just mentioned would more
than completely wipe out the closing balance for the current year. It is necessary,
taking into account the volume of transactions involved, to have a minimum
cash balance of at least Rs.50 crores. It would, therefore, be necessary to
reduce this deficit of Rs.140 crores to Rs.30 crores by means of additional
borrowing. The method and manner in which this additional borrowing should
be secured can be decided only during the course of the year and with reference
to conditions as they develop. For the purposes of the budget, I have taken
a credit of Rs.110 crores under treasury bills, so as to leave an adequate
closing balance at the end of the year.
38. The question may be asked whether in. present conditions it is wise to
resort to deficit financing on the scale envisaged in the budget for the coming
year. I have given the matter the most careful consideration and I am satisfied
that taking all circumstances into account we are not taking any undue risk.
The development plan for the country sets a limit of Rs.300 crores or so over
the five years covered by it to be met by deficit financing an average of
roughly Rs.60 crores a year. In the first two years of the plan taken together
the overall deficit, will be of the order of Rs.82 crores. If theprogramme
of development laid down in the plan has to be carried out, within the broad
limits set for the raising of resources, it is necessary to increase the tempo
of expenditure in the remaining three years of the plan. Recent trends in
the, economic conditions of the country also indicate that the inflationary
pressures, which had been the besetting difficulty, have been brought under
control and the climate seems suitable for raising the scale of developmental
expenditure. The effect of this on the economy of the country will be kept
under constant watch and I need hardly assure the House that appropriate measures
will be taken to counteract any unhealthy development.
39. Before I pass on to the budget proposals I would like to refer to the
progress of the small savings movement. As I have more than once emphasised,
we shall have to turn increasingly to the small saver for providing the finance
required for development. We have endeavoured to get the States more actively
interested in spreading the movement by giving them a financial interest in
the proceeds from small savings. We are considering the extension of the system
of authorised agents, which has been under experiment in three States, to
all the States, and the matter is under discussion with the State Governments
concerned. Steps are also being taken to interest voluntary social and women's
organisations in the furtherance of the movement. I have every hope that these
steps and the widening interest among the masses in the development plans
of the country will bear fruitful results.
40. I now turn to my budget proposals for the coming year.
TAXATION ENQUIRY COMMISSION
41. Before passing on to the budget proposals I have an important announcement
to make. For some years there has been a persistent demand both in the Legislature
and outside, for a systematic enquiry into taxation and as far back as 1946,
the then Government of India decided that such an enquiry should be conducted.
But this decision could not be implemented owing to the impending constitutional
changes, and since independence this had been further held up by more urgent
preoccupations. But as has been indicated more than once on the floor of this
House the idea had not been dropped. Government have now decided to set up
a small compact Commission, with specialised knowledge, to conduct a comprehensive
enquiry into taxation and I am glad to announce that Dr. John Matthai has
accepted our invitation to be the Chairman of the Commission. The other Members
will be Shri V.L. Mehta, till recently a Member of the Finance Commission,
Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao of the Delhi School of Economics, Shri K.R.K. Menon, Secretary,
Finance Ministry, Shri B. Venkatappiah a former Finance Secretary of the Bombay
Government and Dr. B.K. Madan, Economic Adviser of the Reserve Bank. A senior
officer from the Finance Ministry will be the Secretary of the Commission.
The terms of reference of the Commission will be very comprehensive and will
cover taxation in all its aspects, Central, State and local. It is Government's
intention to associate with the Commission two foreign experts on taxation
and public finance so as to make available to the Commission such expert advice
as they may require from foreign experience. The Commission will also be free
to co-opt additional Members for short periods when considering specific problems.
I expect the Commission will start functioning from next April and complete
their work in about two years. I am sure that the labours of the Commission
would assist in laying the foundations of a taxation system best fitted for
the development of the economy of the country on a firm and sound basis.
BUDGET PROPOSALS
42. The relatively small amount of the revenue deficit in the coming year
has made my task, so far as it concerns the raising of additional revenue,
somewhat easier than usual and I propose to confine myself largely to, what
I may call readjustments in taxation rather than to exploring avenue for additional
taxation.
RELIEFS IN TAXATION
43. I shall first deal with reliefs in taxation. My first proposal is to reduce
the export duty on jute sacking. While the prices of hessian have recently
been looking up the position in regard to sacking has been causing Government
some concern. I propose a reduction in the export duty on sacking from Rs.175
per ton to Rs.80 per ton. immediate effect to being given to this by a notification
under the Sea Customs Act. I hope that this reduction will assist the industry
in retaining its exports in the world markets. The loss in revenue is estimated
at Rs.3.5 crores.
44. My second proposal to raise the exemption limit for personal income-tax.
The existing limit of Rs.3,600 for individuals and Rs.7,200 for Hindu undivided
families will he raised to Rs.4,200 for individuals and Rs.8,400 for Hindu
undivided families.
This increase to made not merely as a measure of relief in taxation but also
for securing some relief to the income tax administration. I have felt for
some time that far too much of the time of the income-tax Department is being
taken up by the relatively smaller assessments and, if the number of such
assessments could be reduced, the Department would be able to give greater
attention to the cozen of the bigger assessees and improve the revenue from
income-tax. The change proposed will have the effect of taking away a little
over 70,000 assessments out of a total of nearly 8 lakhs. The loss is revenue
is estimated at Rs.82 lakhs, of which the Central share will he Rs.40 lakhs.
I feel that in the long run this loss to the exchequer would be more than
offset by the improvement of income-tax collections.
45. The two changes mentioned above will raise the deficit of Rs.1.05 crores
to Rs.4.95 crores and I propose to cover thin by certain readjustments in
import duties and postal rates.
CHANCES IN IMPORT DUTIES
46. The changes in import duties, which cover a number of items, mainly relate
to semi-luxury items. The duty on toilet requisites, certain categories of
textiles, crockery and glass and earthenware tiles will be raised and a limited
quota allowed for import. While this will bring in some additional revenue
the prices, including the duty, will be high enough to act as a deterrent
to any undue expansion of consumption. The duty on certain other items like
motor car imported in an assembled condition is being raised while duties
are being imposed on the costlier type of horses and precious stones and pearls.
These duties will bring in some revenue without any material increase in expenditure
of foreign exchange.
The duty on betel-nut is also proposed to be increased by about two annas
a pound. This will assist the indigenous grower in securing a more remunerative
market for his crop.
As part of the changes in the import tariff I also propose to reduce the duties
on penicillin, antibiotics and sulpha drugs, milk foods for infants and invalids,
certain types of parent foods, scientific instruments and appliances, prints,
engravigs and pictures and works of art. These changes, which I am sure the
House will welcome, are unlikely materially to affect the revenue.
The net result of the changes in the import duties mentioned above will be
an additional revenue of Rs.3.5 cores which will just off set the loss in
export duties from the reduction in the duty on sacking.
CHANGES IN UNION EXCISE DUTIES
47. Certain readjustments are also being made in the excise duty on cloth.
Before May 1952 the rates of duty on fine and super-fine cloth were 5 per
cent and 20 per cent ad valorem respectively. The heavy fall in the price
of cloth of these categories last year made the assessment of the duty on
the Textile Commissioner's ceiling price onerous and 'it was decided to prescribe
certain specific duties per yard as maximum duties, the duty being levied
at these rates or at the ad valorem rates, whichever was less. The rates of
specific duties were fixed at a level which, it was believed at the time,
would eliminate ad valorem assessments in most cases. The subsequent further
fall in prices belied this expectation and led to the preponderance of ad
valorem assessments, giving rise to administrative difficulties and continual
friction between the mills and the assessing staff on the question of the
adequacy of the declared prices. In order to overcome these difficulties it
has been decided to do away with ad valorem assessments altogether and to
prescribe absolute specific duties. Super-fine cloth will be charged a duty
of 3 annas 9 pies a yard and fine cloth a duty of 1 anna 3 pies a yard, and
the necessary provision is being included in the Finance Bill. This will not
mean any increase or reduction in revenue but will make the task of assessment
and collection easier.
CHANGES IN POSTAL RATES
48. In recent years the Posts and Telegraphs Department has been implementing
a programme of expansion of postal facilities in the rural areas and during
the last five years more than 16, 000 Post Offices have been opened in villages
with a population of 2,000 and over. Many of these Post offices are not expected
to be remunerative for some time. This, together with the adoption of the
Pay Commission is recommendations and the other measures taken for the improvement
of the service conditions, especially of the lower categories of staff, has
resulted in a loss in the working of the Postal services since 1948-49. In
the four years ended March 1952 the net loss of the Postal branch amounted
to Rs.3.61 crores. The loss in the current year is estimated at Rs.2.23 crores
while for next year it will be a little over Rs.2.68 crores. A review has,
therefore, been carried out of the existing scale of postal rates with reference
to the cost of the service under each head and the charges levied in other
countries. As a result of this review, it has been decided to increase the
scale of fees for parcels, packets, registration and insurance. The existing
rate of 6 annas for every 40 tolas for parcels will be raised to 8 annas.
The postage on book pattern and sample packets will be raised from 9 pies
for the first five tolas and 3 pies for every additional 21/2 tolas to 1 anna
and 6 pies respectively. The registration fee will be raised from 41/2 annas
per article to 6 annas per article while the fee for insurance will be raised
from 4 annas to 6 annas for the first Rs.100 and from 2 annas to 3 annas for
every additional Rs.100. These increases in rates are estimated to yield an
additional revenue of Rs.1.90 crores.
NET EFFECT OF PROPOSALS
49. I shall now summarise the effect of the various changes mentioned above.
The reduction in the export duty in sacking and the raising of the exemption
limit for personal income-tax will involve a loss in revenue of Rs.3.90 crores,
which will raise the deficit from Rs.1.05 crores to Rs.4.95crores. The changes
in import duties will bring in Rs.3.50 crores and the increases in Postal
rates Rs.1.90 crores. This will leave a nominal surplus of Rs.45 lakhs on
revenue account.
CERTAIN CHANCES IN INCOME-TAX LAW
50. Before I conclude I should like to mention a few changes relating to income-tax
which are being included in the Finance Bill for the coming year. The House
will remember that in the budget for 1948-49 provision was made for exempting
from income-tax payments made to approved charities up to a maximum of Rs.21/2
lakhs or 10 per cent of the income, whichever is less, to stimulate private
assistance to charitable purposes. Experience has shown that this arrangement
is not sufficiently flexible, particularly in regard to the charities to be
benefited. We have now decided that the requirement in regard to the approval
of the charity or the charitable institutions by the Central Government should
be waived and the benefit given to any fund or charitable institution registered
or under a trust or run by the Central or State Governments or a local authority.
I trust that this modification will lead to a freer flow of assistance to
deserving institutions. Simultaneously, we propose to reduce the limits from
its. 24 lakhs to Rs.1 lakh and from 10 per cent of the income to 5 per cent.
Necessary amendments are being made to Section 15B of the income-tax Act.
Some difficulty has been experienced by companies which invest their surplus
funds in another company as the investing company has to pay corporation tax
on its dividends from the investment in order to encourage such investment
it is proposed to exempt such dividends from corporation tax. This concession
will be given to dividends of new undertakings engaged in certain selected
industries.
At present a foreign company operating through a wholly Indian subsidiary
has often to pay a slightly larger tax than a foreign company working through
its branches in India. This operates to the disadvantage of the Indian subsidiaries
and provision is being made so that the disparity could be gradually reduced.
Certain other changes are also proposed in the income-tax law. I need draw
the attention of the House only to two somewhat important changes. The first
is the provision designed to cheek the practice of buying up speculative losses.
The income-tax investigation Commission recommended that the law should be
amended so as to allow speculative losses to be set off only against speculative
gains. This amendment was included in the income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 1951
which lapsed. It is now proposed to make this amendment. The second is the
provision empowering Government to negotiate agreement with foreign Governments,
if necessary, for relief from or avoidance of double taxation. This removes
a lacuna in the law as at present Government have power to negotiate such
arrangements only with certain countries.
CONCLUSION
51. The budget for the coming year has been framed against the background
of the Five-Year Plan and I am sure the House would like to know to what extent
progress would have been made by the end of the budget year in reaching the
measure of development envisaged by the Plan. The expenditure proposed in
the Plan covers the budgets of not only the Centre but also of the States,
and, although we are in the second year of the Plan, it is difficult to make
a precise estimate of the progress achieved. As I mentioned earlier, on a
rough estimate, the total expenditure by the Centre and the States together
in the first two years of the Plan is expected to be of the order of Rs.600
crores. This would be roughly equally divided between the Centre and the States.
In the coming year the provision in the Central budget for developmental expenditure
is of the order of Rs.225 crores exclusive of Central assistance for financing
the State Plans. If the level of developmental expenditure reached by the
States in 1952-53 is maintained in the coming year, the total expenditure,
taking the Centre and the States together, for the three years ending March
1954 would have reached about Rs.1,000 crores. Since the total expenditure
envisaged by the Plan is Rs.2,069 crores this would leave a balance of Rs.1,000
crores or so for the last two years of the Plan. When it is remembered that
the level of expenditure in the earlier years of the Plan is bound to be somewhat
lower, as expenditure on individual schemes takes some time to gather momentum,
I think that it could be fairly said that the progress in implementing the
Plan has not fallen short of the target to be reached in the first two years.
I hope it will be possible, in the very near future, to make a complete survey
of the progress made in the first two years of the Plan, in consultation with
State Governments; so that the public may know the precise extent to which
the Plan has been implemented. I know that there is a keen demand for this
information, but it has to be remembered that the final outturn for the current
year will take some time to become available and that it may be somewhat misleading
at this stage to attempt an appreciation based on the revised estimates for
this year.
52. The fulfilment of a programme of planned economic development depends
not merely on the laying down of policies and making the finance available
but on efficient administration and public co-operation. The Five-Year Plan
which, in the nature of things, is bound to be the first of many more Plans,
lays down the policy for the next three years in each major field of development.
To carry through this policy and programme with the maximum Amount of public
co-operation is the main task before both the Centre and the State Governments.
At the Centre, I believe I can justly claim that we have done our part in
implementing the Plan. I am sure the State Governments are also animated by
the same purpose although I fear that some of them have not shown the necessary
determination, matching their keenness, in raising the resources expected
from them after full consultation. But it is also true that some of them have
had to carry the strain of meeting substantial additional expenditure on account
of scarcity. I hope that in the remaining years of the Plan the State Governments
will find it possible to concentrate all their attention and energy on augmenting
their resources, so that the completion of the development proposed by the
Plan is not delayed. The transition from a regulatory to a welfare state is
never easy. It requires as much of inspired, informed and understanding leadership
as a sense of discipline, a co-operative attitude and a spirit of sacrifice
in the interest of the common good on the part of the community. The fostering
of such leadership will be the supreme test of political wisdom and statesmanship.
It will be for the Governments in the country, assisted by the Planning Commission,
to furnish precise and definite guidance in regard to the direction and content
of the public co-operation expected; and once such guidance is forthcoming,
it will be for the people of the country to give of their best without stint,
so that the Plan goes forward to the prosperity and greater glory of our motherland.