Reading between the lines
THE WEEK India|February 12, 2023
If you look past the highlights of the budget, the poll-centric calculations become clear
PRATUL SHARMA
Reading between the lines

Everybody loves a good budget. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman kept her fifth and the government’s last full Union budget before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls short and simple. Those looking for big reliefs may have been disappointed, but the government made sure that its key ‘constituencies’—especially the middle class and women—benefitted or can look forward to the fruits of development. The two headline-making announcements—income tax sops for the salaried class and the increase in capital expenditure to rev up economic growth— will keep voters happy, for now.

The last time the government announced sops for the salaried class was during the interim budget presented on February 1, 2019, two months before Lok Sabha polls. Then, the tax exemption limit was raised to ₹5 lakh. Now, with little over a year to go for Lok Sabha polls, the government has revised the tax exemption limit upwards to ₹7 lakh. Unlike in 2019, the salaried class would have enjoyed the benefit of lower taxes before casting its vote in 2024. The government will forgo ₹35,000 crore in revenue.

This story is from the February 12, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 12, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEK INDIAView All
The female act
THE WEEK India

The female act

The 19th edition of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival was of the women and by the women

time-read
4 mins  |
November 24, 2024
A SHOT OF ARCHER
THE WEEK India

A SHOT OF ARCHER

An excerpt from the prologue of An Eye for an Eye

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
MASTER OF MAKE-BELIEVE
THE WEEK India

MASTER OF MAKE-BELIEVE

50 years. after his first book, Jeffrey*Archer refuses to put down his'felt-tip Pilot pen

time-read
4 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Smart and sassy Passi
THE WEEK India

Smart and sassy Passi

Pop culture works according to its own unpredictable, crazy logic. An unlikely, overnight celebrity has become the talk of India. Everyone, especially on social media, is discussing, dissing, hissing and mimicking just one person—Shalini Passi.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Energy transition and AI are reshaping shipping
THE WEEK India

Energy transition and AI are reshaping shipping

PORTS AND ALLIED infrastructure development are at the heart of India's ambitions to become a maritime heavyweight.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 24, 2024
MADE FOR EACH OTHER
THE WEEK India

MADE FOR EACH OTHER

Trump’s preferred transactional approach to foreign policy meshes well with Modi’s bent towards strategic autonomy

time-read
4 mins  |
November 24, 2024
DOOM AND GLOOM
THE WEEK India

DOOM AND GLOOM

Democrats’ message came across as vague, preachy and hopelessly removed from reality. And voters believed Trump’s depiction of illegal immigrants as a source of their economic woes

time-read
4 mins  |
November 24, 2024
WOES TO WOWS
THE WEEK India

WOES TO WOWS

The fundamental reason behind Trump’s success was his ability to convert average Americans’ feelings of grievance into votes for him

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
POWER HOUSE
THE WEEK India

POWER HOUSE

Trump International Hotel was the only place outside the White House where Trump ever dined during his four years as president

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
DON 2.0
THE WEEK India

DON 2.0

Trump returns to presidency stronger than before, but just as unpredictable

time-read
5 mins  |
November 24, 2024