Under the 2014 to 2015 interim budget of India, a 10 percent surcharge on "super rich" individuals was imposed on those having annual taxable income above which amount in Indian rupees?

Introduction / Context:
Indian budget and taxation questions are a regular feature in exams, especially for banking, SSC and civil services. The 2014 to 2015 interim budget introduced a special surcharge on very high income individuals often described as super rich. This question asks at what income threshold the 10 percent surcharge became applicable.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The time frame is the 2014 to 2015 interim budget.
• A surcharge of 10 percent was imposed on super rich individuals.
• We are asked the minimum annual income above which this surcharge applied.
• Options are 50 lakh, 1 crore, 2 crore and 3 crore rupees.

Concept / Approach:
In Indian income tax, a surcharge is an additional charge on the tax payable by individuals with incomes above a specified threshold. During the 2014 to 2015 period, the government decided that individuals with taxable income exceeding 1 crore rupees per year would be subject to an extra 10 percent surcharge on the amount of income tax. This measure aimed at raising revenue from the highest earners without changing basic tax slabs for the majority.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that media and exam notes at that time used the phrase super rich for individuals earning more than 1 crore rupees annually. Step 2: The interim budget specified a 10 percent surcharge on the income tax payable by these individuals, not on their entire income but on their tax liability. Step 3: Check the options. The threshold matching this description is 1 crore rupees. Step 4: 50 lakh rupees is a high income but not the figure used in that particular surcharge announcement. Step 5: 2 crore and 3 crore rupees are higher than the threshold and therefore do not match the official budget statement. Step 6: Conclude that 1 crore rupees is the correct income level above which the surcharge applied.

Verification / Alternative check:
A useful verification approach is to remember simple pairs: 10 percent surcharge and income above 1 crore rupees. This pair appears in many exam oriented summaries of the budget. Additionally, later budgets often referred back to that measure, reinforcing the association of 1 crore with the idea of super rich in the Indian tax system. None of the other options have similar repeated references in standard preparation material.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 50 lakh rupees is wrong because although it is a high salary, it was not the threshold used for this particular surcharge. Option 2 crore rupees is wrong since the surcharge would already apply at incomes above 1 crore and there is no distinct policy in that budget introducing a new threshold at 2 crore. Option 3 crore rupees is wrong for the same reason; it does not reflect the official threshold mentioned in the interim budget.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse different surcharges introduced in different years, where the rates and thresholds may change. Another pitfall is to mix up surcharge thresholds for individuals with those for corporations. To avoid such confusion, it is helpful to create a year wise table of major direct tax changes, especially thresholds and rates that are frequently asked in exams. Carefully reading whether the question refers to an interim budget, full budget, individuals or companies is also important.

Final Answer:
In the 2014 to 2015 interim budget, the 10 percent surcharge on super rich individuals applied to those with annual taxable income above 1 crore rupees.