<span style="color: #222222;">In Gujarat, finance Minister Kanubhai Desai today presented a general budget of Rs 2 crore 43 thousand 965 for the year 2022-23. The budget presented Rs 668 crore surplus.<br />''<br />''Presenting the budget in the assembly, the Minister said that in view of the post Covid circumstances, no new tax has been proposed in the budget and all the existing taxes remain unchanged. He said the budget focuses on employment creation, skill development as well as betterment of fishermen and farmers.<br />''  <br />''A report<br />''The minister announced that persons earning up to Rs 12,000 per month, shall be fully exempted from paying professional tax. This will provide relief of Rs 198 Crore to about 15 lakh middle class tax payers.<br />''<br />'' Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has called it as an inclusive budget that focuses on wellbeing of all the sectors of society. This was the first and the last budget of the Bhupendra Patel government as the state assembly elections are due in December this year. </span><br />