Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday presented to parliament India's union budget for the coming financial year beginning in April.

The Indian information technology firms are looking for increased spending on education, e-governance and defence sectors, and an extension by at least one year of tax benefits under the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) scheme. Following are the highlights of the budget:

* Income tax e-filing to be made easier

* To distribute 1 million UID cards per day shortly

* To provide Rs 200 cr grant to IIT Kharagpur, Rs 20 crore to IIM Calcutta

* Allocation of Rs 52,057 cr for education sector, increase of 24%

* Broadband Internet for rural India

* Direct tax code to be effective April 1, 2012

* Indian economy expected to grow at 9% in FY12

* Discussions on to further liberalise FDI policy

* Inflation remains a concern, to fall next year

* Plan to introduce Companies Bill in current session

* Must ensure that private investment is sustained

* Need to ensure balanced demand and supply

* Disinvestment target of Rs 40,000 cr

* Growth rate of services sector expected at 9.3%

* To provide Rs 58,000 crore for Bharat Nirman projects

* Special Economic Zones to come under MAT

* Service tax retained at 10%

* Base rate on excise duty raised to 5% from 4%

* Economy has regained pre-crisis growth momentum