Pre-Budget talks: Jaitley to meet state FMs today

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will meet state finance ministers Friday to elicit their views on the forthcoming budget to be presented in Lok Sabha in February-end.

After meeting state finance ministers, Jaitley will start customary pre-budget consultations with different interest groups, including industry and trade unions.

He will be presenting the first full fledged budget of the Narendra Modi-led government in February. Last year, the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram had brought an interim budget in February for the fiscal 2014-15 and later in July, Jaitley presented a regular one.  The meeting with state finance ministers assumes significance as Jaitley is also likely to discuss CST compensation and other issues related to proposed GST.