Govt Open To Making Tweaks To Budget: FM

Willing to do more beyond the Budget, says Nirmala Sitharaman at NITI Aayog interaction

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said she is open to making tweaks to the Union Budget, and is even willing to take steps beyond it, as and when the need arises, based on feedback from economists and experts.

In an interactive session on ‘Budget & Beyond’, organized by the NITI Aayog, she said the immediate feedback has been motivating, as it has had a “positive impact” on the currency, bond, and equity markets. “It is one Budget where the impact on the equity, currency and bond market has been positive. The currency market remains stable, the bond market has cooled off and the equity markets are positive,” she added. “If more has to be done beyond the Budget, we are willing to do that.”

Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Expenditure Secretary TV Somanathan, Disinvestment Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey and other officials were present at the interaction.

On REITs and InvITs

Sitharaman sought the views of economists and tax experts on the Budget.