Assam gets its first e-Budget, no new taxes for 2018-19

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday presented the state’s first e-Budget with a deficit of ~21.49 billion in the Assembly and no proposal of fresh taxes. After Andhra Pradesh, Assam has become the second state to have an e-Budget, but unlike the other state, Assam’s Budget is available on Google’s Play Store, giving access to everyone, Sarma said. The state Budget proposed a levy of electricity duty at 5 per cent on ad-valorem basis, and one per cent increase in stamp duty registration fee for transactions of immovable properties. Sarma said estimated transactions during the fiscal year starting April will result in a surplus of around ~9.9 billion, and a Budget deficit of ~21.49 billion by March 31, 2019.