The Congress-led coalition government on February 28 unveiled the country's annual budget. India has Asia's third-largest economy.

Here are highlights of the budget for 2006/07 (April-March):

* Finance Minister says economic prospects for 2005/06 just as good as last year

* GDP growth likely to be 8.1 per cent

* Farm sector output likely to grow 2.3 per cent in 2005/06

* Government aims to raise GDP growth to 10 per cent

* Government to spend 117 billion rupees ($2.63 billion) on rural jobs guarantee scheme in 05/06

* Government to allocate 186.96 billion rupees for rural infrastructure projects in 2007/07

* Gross budgetary support for 2006/07 at 1.73 trillion rupees

* Education spending to be increased by 31.5 percent, and health spending by 22 per cent

* Allocation for primary education increased to 100.41 billion rupees from 71.56 billion. ($1 = 44 rupees)

(www.financialexpress.com)