Number of billionaires in India down to 136 in FY21 from 141 in FY20

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament on Tuesday that the number of billionaires in India in 2020-21 is 136. This is based on the gross total income declared in the income tax return filed during the financial year 2020-21. The data reveals that the number of billionaires have come down from 141 in 2019-20.

In a reply to the Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said that the number of individuals disclosing a gross total income of more than Rs 100 crore or one billion rupees in a year in his/her income tax filing with the Income Tax Department during 2018-19 stood at 77.

Sharing data on poverty, the Finance Minister said that the number of persons living below the poverty line in India was estimated at 27 crores or 21.9% in 2011-12. The findings of this data is based on the Tendulkar Committee methodology.

Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised that the government with its 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' policy has initiated various schemes with the intention of improving the quality of life of the people. 

The Finance Minister further stated that as per Economic Survey 2020-21 access to the bare necessities of drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, and housing condition, has improved significantly from 2012 to 2018 for both rural and urban areas.

What else Sitharaman said

The price situation is constantly monitored by the government and appropriate measures taken to maintain price stability.

The government has taken several steps to control inflation, including supply augmentation measures.

Liberalising import policy for pulses and edible oils, signing MoUs for import of pulses with supplier countries.

Imposing stock limits for pulses and utilisation of pulses stocks for cooling down prices through supply to states and disposal through Open Market Sales.

Fraud in Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) declined to 323 in 2020-21 as against 568 in 2019-20.

Fraud in State Cooperative Banks (SCBs) has come down to 482 cases in 2020-21 from 508 in the previous year.

1.33 lakh individuals got unsecured loans sanctioned for COVID-19 treatment by public sector banks (PSBs) as of July 15, 2021.

Repayment periods range from three to five years and an initial repayment moratorium period ranging from three to six months.

(With Agency Inputs)