Glad for Kangana: Waheeda Rehman on 'Manikarnika'

Mumbai, Jan 31 Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman has commended Kangana Ranaut for her performance and direction in her most recent "Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi".

The epic drama features Ranaut in the titular role of the iconic freedom fighter.

"I am highly impressed by Kangana's performance and direction in 'Manikarnika'. She looks absolutely fabulous and beautiful.

"I am extremely upbeat and pleased with her. God bless her and wishing her all the best," Rehman, 80, said in a statement.

She was shown the film Wednesday evening at an extraordinary screening, along with other yesteryear stars.

Veteran actor-director Asha Parekh, who was also present at the screening, praised Ranaut for her work in the film.

"I truly loved it, she has worked admirably and buckled down. I hope the film keeps running for quite a while... She indeed looks like the Rani of Jhansi in the film," Parekh, 76, said.

The movie, however, has mired into a debate over the direction credit between Krish and Ranaut.

Government doubles tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh

New Delhi, Feb 1 In a major relief to the middle-class, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday proposed to double the threshold tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh and increased the standard deduction to Rs 50,000 from Rs 40,000.

The proposal will profit 3 crore middle-class tax payers, Goyal said while unveiling the Budget proposals for 2019-20.

Doubling the threshold exemption limit will expand the burden on the exchequer by Rs 18,500 crore.

If an individual invests in the specified tax saving plans of the government, the effective tax-free income limit will be Rs 6.5 lakh a year, while it may go further up with additional avenues like NPS, medical insurance and home loan interest payment..

Income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh

New Delhi, Feb 1 Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday doled out tax sops to middle class including doubling of pay income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh and raising standard deduction to Rs 50,000, and gave concessions on interest income from bank deposits and rent.

"People with salary up to Rs 5 lakh won't be required to pay any tax," Goyal said while presenting Interim Budget for 2019-20 in Lok Sabha.

He said with this, people who are earning gross pay of Rs 6.5 lakh every year and have made investment funds instruments, in savings instruments, will be exempt from paying income tax.

"This will give advantage of Rs 18,500 crore rpt crore to 3 crore white collar class citizens independently employed, senior subjects," he stated, including the quantity of recipients will go up for the individuals who have made interests in mediclaim and annuity.

No duty will be deducted on premium earned on bank and mail station stores of up to Rs 40,000 every year, up from Rs 10,000 as of now.

The Budget also proposed to exempt tax on notional rent for unsold housing units for two years.

Goyal also suggested that advantage of rollover of capital tax gains be increased from investment in one residential house to that in two residential houses, for a taxpayer having capital gains of up to Rs 2 crore.

However, it can be exercised once in a lifetime, he added.

The Income Tax department will move towards faceless assessment and verification of returns, Goyal said Friday.

Standard finding has been raised from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 which will benefit three crore salaried people.

Finance Minister: Farmers to get Rs 6,000/yr in 3 installments under Centre funded plan

New Delhi, Feb 1 Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday said farmers will be given Rs 6,000 every year in three installments under a scheme to be fully funded by the central government

Presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal tried to address a portion of the pain that the homestead division has been facing.

He said the government will give Rs 6,000 every year to agriculturists "in three installments" and it will be "completely funded by the central government".

Allocation to MNREGA has been hiked to Rs 60,000 crore for 2019-20, said Goyal, who ventured in as interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley needed to travel to New York for medical treatment.

He further said the legislature had spent Rs 1.7 lakh crore to supply nourishment grains at cheaper price to poor in 2018-19 as against Rs 92,000 crore in 2013-14.

Interim Budget 2019 Live Updates, Pradhan Mantri kisaan samman samit, Piyush Goyal

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