BBC World will offer extensive coverage of this week's Union Budget, with in-depth analysis from both Indian and global perspectives.

Along with full reports on the channel's hourly news bulletins, there will be an exclusive interview with India's Finance Minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, on Budget 2004. Presented by Karan Thapar, the interview will be telecast today (July 8, 2004).

Yashwant Sinha, who has been the Finance Minister from 1998 until earlier this year, will also appear on a special edition of HARDtalk India on July 9, to offer an opposition view.

In addition, regular programmes including India Business Report, Asia Business Report and Asia Today will assess the implications of the measures for the coming year.

The India Business Report on July 11, will have a complete post-Budget analysis programme, with a panel discussion featuring guests including Sunil Munjal, president, Confederation of Indian Industries, Vikram Mehta, chairman, Shell India, Prem Shankar Jha, economic journalist and John Elliott of Fortune magazine.