Union and Railway Budget to be merge; non-plan, plan distinction to end

The Union Cabinet on 21 September 2016 approved merger of Rail budget with Union Budget. 
•    It also decided to advance the date of presentation of the annual budget from the last day of February to start of February.
•    It also decided to merge the Plan and the Non-Plan classification in the Budget and Accounts. 
•    All these changes will be put into effect simultaneously from the Budget 2017-18.
•    The Railways will continue to maintain its distinct entity -as a departmentally run commercial undertaking as at present
•    Railways will retain their functional autonomy and delegation of financial powers etc. as per the existing guidelines
•    The existing financial arrangements will continue wherein Railways will meet all their revenue expenditure, including ordinary working expenses, pay and allowances and pensions etc. from their revenue receipts;
•    The Capital at charge of the Railways estimated at 2.27 lakh crore rupees on which annual dividend is paid by the Railways will be wiped off.