TIME TO SPLURGE

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has many firsts to her credit-from being India's first full-fledged woman finance minister to presenting the first paperless budget to giving the longest budget speech. She will have another first when she presents her seventh budget in a row on July 23-the first non-Congress finance minister to do so.
Sitharaman is expected to make more than just statistical history-a lot will be riding on her budget speech. And there have already been some hints. "This budget will be an effective document of the government's extensive policies and futuristic vision," said President Droupadi Murmu in her joint address to Parliament a month ago. "Alongside major economic and social decisions, many historic steps will be highlighted."
The new Modi government had signalled continuity by retaining most of the cabinet even though the Prime Minister had to rely on allies to secure a majority after the Lok Sabha polls. The budget, however, will have to address political considerations while maintaining fiscal consolidation and pushing growth. The massive mandates Modi received in 2014 and 2019 had given the government a lot of elbow room to push reforms.
With an energised opposition trying to corner the government on every possible occasion, the government may be inclined to take a more populist route.
Two key allies-the Telugu Desam Party and the Janata Dal (United)-run governments in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, respectively, and they have been vocal in demanding special packages for their states.
They seek financial assurances to let Modi pursue his political agenda.
How far the Modi government goes to address their needs would set the contours of the remaining term of the government. The budget, which is the first major policy document of the government, is expected to rely on the BJP's manifesto for fulfilling many of its promises on social welfare, cultural and reforms fronts.
この記事は THE WEEK India の July 21, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は THE WEEK India の July 21, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン

Chanel and patriarchal India
The bouquets keep coming for Leena Nair, the global CEO of Chanel. On June 11, the Indian-born Nair was awarded the UK's Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Prince William, prince of Wales, in recognition of her work in retail.

War, farce, or a Persian tragedy?
Those who can't remember the past are con-demned to repeat it,\" said George Santayana. The line has since been folk-tongued to sound like a proverb—\"Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat its mistakes.\"

Quiet momentum of a rising nation
I came across a British weekly column lamenting that India's leadership has lost momentum, and that it suffers from a lack of imagination. One can only assume it was composed under a grey London sky, by someone who has never truly tasted the clarity of thought that comes with a well-brewed masala chai.

To fly or not to fly
The Tatas must urgently find a way to stem the rot in Air India

Bench besieged
At the heart of the Justice Varma controversy is a consequential issue: the institutional confrontation between judiciary and executive

NURTURING CHANGE AGENTS
How India's best colleges are transforming the lives of students with a strong focus on contributing to nation building

HORROR IN THE SKY
Air India’s image has taken a hit with the Ahmedabad crash, but thorough investigation, transparency and a human touch could help

War is an endemic
For millennia, historians, philosophers and states-men have pondered about war, its nature and the nature of leaders who take their people to war. Iran cannot match Israel's daring commandos or precision spyware technologies that destroy their military facilities and assassinate their generals and scientists.

Black warrant
Israel's attack on Iran is not just about the nuclear issue, but also about dismantling Tehran's military and political leadership

Layover of life
A friend just posted an Instagram story—an aerial shot of Mumbai—with the caption: “Landed! Surely ‘landed’ is the most beautiful word in the world?#Thankful.”