Major reforms likely as FM Nirmala Sitharaman set to present her 7th Budget

Budget likely to focus on supporting consumption via higher allocation for the rural economy, taxation reforms, infrastructure push

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her seventh straight Union Budget on Tuesday that would lay a roadmap for ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

After presenting the Budget, Finance Minister Sitharaman will address a press conference along with the Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Finance Secretary TV Somanathan, Secretaries of Ministry of Finance and Chief Economic Adviser
V Anantha Nageswaran to the government on Tuesday afternoon.

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The Union Budget is likely to focus on supporting consumption via higher allocation for the rural economy, taxation reforms, infrastructure push, thrust on local manufacturing, job and skill creation and an increase in production-linked incentive (PLI) allocation to more labour-intensive sectors.

The spotlight would likely be on changes in the income tax structure to benefit taxpayers across all segments and on improving the ease of doing business in the country. The Budget could increase capital expenditure and may usher in a more standardised approach to taxation, according to Moody’s Analytics.

According to experts, there is a need to infuse investments in districts and rural areas, both for accelerating traditional economic activities as well as the new economy, especially focused on circularity. Focusing on creating rural areas as champions of circularity holds significant potential, as overall sustainability becomes a key priority.

The Economic Survey 2023-2024 projects India’s GDP growth rate at 6.5 to 7 per cent for 2024-25 as it sees the economy on a strong wicket. However, achieving a seven per cent GDP growth rate “is doable” for India despite the global environment has become more challenging since the beginning of the year, according to Chief Economic Adviser Nageswaran.

According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Economic Survey highlights the prevailing strengths of our economy and also showcases the outcomes of the various reforms the government has brought. “It also identifies areas for further growth and progress as we move towards building a Viksit Bharat,” Prime Minister Modi said in a post on X on Monday.

The government’s thrust on capex and sustained momentum in private investment has boosted capital formation growth. Gross Fixed Capital Formation increased by nine per cent in real terms in 2023-24. The Economic Survey 2023-24 has also brought out the importance of non-farm sectors in the growth trajectory of the Indian economy.