Budget in first week of July: FM

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said he will present the full Budget for 2009-10 in the first week of July.

In his first formal press conference after taking over as full-time Finance Minister, Mukherjee said the UPA had in its manifesto committed to presenting the Budget within 45 days of formation of the Government.

Keeping that deadline in mind, the Budget for 2009-10 will be presented in the first week of July, he said, adding the Government would endeavour for the Budget to be passed before July 31.

Reviving growth momentum of the economy will be the top priority for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led Government but revival would not be at the cost of fiscal prudence, he said.

Mukherjee said the industry and business hit hard by cost of finance and its easy availability and he would meet bankers soon to get them committed to more benign plan of action to boost credit and its flow.