ISAS Briefs

The Narendra Modi government’s final budget of this term has been presented. It has broken past traditions of presenting only a ‘vote on account’ ahead of the general elections and has distinct overtones of reaching out to the voter community. There are sops to the farmers, rural workers, and salaried low-middle income groups. The fiscal deficit slippage, despite sops, has been indicated to be minor, whereas disinvestment target seems ambitious. It remains to be seen how the March end figures will pan out as it will be for the incoming government.