https://rbalu.com/budget-consultation-with-the-finance-minister-of-india/
Experts commenting on the budget each year use words like ‘pro-corporate’, ‘urban centric’, ‘pro-farmer’ or ‘rural focussed’ based on the allocations made or their own preferences. Some of the other common expressions that have been used to describe the union budget are words like ‘middle-class friendly’, ‘social sector inclined’, ‘taxation heavy’, and ‘election year budget’. In a year that is still seeing COVID ravaging the world, one can expect now to see a ‘COVID response’ in the budget. Whether it is increased spending on health care and vaccines, or stimulating the failing economy – the budget is expected to reflect the concerns of the government in managing both the COVID pandemic and its social & economic fallout. Another possibility is the political need to reflect the concerns of the protesting farmers while keeping in mind the need for additional defence spending considering the growing Chinese threat.
From this perspective, one also hopes that the Prime Minister’s oft repeated vision of making India self-reliant (Atmanirbhar), enabling a $5 trillion economy and making India a scientific superpower are also kept in mind. Programs like Ayushman Bharat, UDAN, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Atal Innovation Mission and ‘Make in India’ are just beginning to show encouraging response and need continued support.
