PM approves interim budget

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today approved the interim general budgetwhich will be presented in the Lok Sabha by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukharjee on Monday. Singh went through the interim budget related papers and after formally signing them, forwarded them to President Pratibha Patil, a PMO spokesman said.

"The Prime Minister also approved the interim budget speech," the spokesman added.

Mukherjee, who is holding additional charge of the finance portfolio, met the Prime Minister earlier in the day and discussed budget-related issues with him.