In Jaitley's Absence, Piyush Goyal Given Charge of Finance Ministry

Goyal will likely present the Narendra Modi government's last budget before the 2019 elections on February 1.

The Wire Staff

Goyal will likely present the Narendra Modi government's last budget before the 2019 elections on February 1.

in jaitley s absence piyush goyal given charge of finance ministry

Piyush Goyal. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Railways minister Piyush Goyal will temporarily assume the responsibilities of the finance and corporate affairs ministries during Arun Jaitley’s period of indisposition, a government press release said on Wednesday night.

“The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, hereby directed that during the period of indisposition of Shri Arun Jaitley, the portfolios of minister of finance and minister of corporate affairs… be temporarily assigned to Shri Piyush Goyal,” the release said.

Last week, The Wire exclusively reported that Jaitley had left to New York for treatment of soft tissue cancer in his thigh.

According to the government release, Jaitley will be designated as a minister without portfolio untill he is able to resume his work as minister of finance and minister of corporate affairs.

According to finance ministry spokesperson D.S. Malik, Goyal will announce the Narendra Modi government’s last budget before the 2019 general elections on February 1.

The interim budget will likely see the Centre roll out crucial pre-election measures such as a universal income transfer scheme for farmers in addition to giving relief to India’s middle-class in the form of income tax sops.

This article went live on January twenty-third, two thousand nineteen, at twenty-three minutes past nine at night.

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