INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Ms Sitharaman also has to take into account a tough disinvestment target in a slowing economy.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce her first budget today, outlining the priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his
second term after a massive election victory
Nirmala Sitharaman, India's first full-time woman finance minister, is widely expected to boost spending and provide tax relief in the
much-anticipated Union Budget
The Budget poses a number of challenges for the re-elected National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, ranging from a slowdown in the
economy to weak consumption and shrinking tax collections
Economists say the Finance Minister needs to announce measures that spur growth without straining expenditure much
Here are 10 things to expect in Budget:Ms Sitharaman could lower corporate taxes for small and medium-sized businesses as
well as personal ones to revive consumption by the middle class while withdrawing some tax exemptions.The Budget comes at a time when India
has lost its top spot as the world's fastest-growing major economy
India's GDP or gross domestic product growth slipped to 5.8 per cent in the March quarter - the slowest pace in 20 quarters
A primary focus in the Budget is widely expected to be on ways to boost economic growth.Many analysts expect that the personal income tax
structure will not be tweaked, as it may contradict the government's aim to expand taxpayers' base
However, some expect tax implications for the super rich, such as reintroduction of a long-abolished inheritance tax.Ms Sitharaman also has
to take into account a tough disinvestment target in a slowing economy
The government is looking to raise Rs 90,000 crore from disinvestment in 2019-20, up 5.88 per cent from Rs 85,000 crore it received the
previous year.The Finance Ministry may also focus on steps to boost employment and exports
It may consider fiscal incentives like interest rate subvention and lower tax rates for up to a certain turnover threshold for small
businesses.In its Economic Survey 2019 prepared by the new Chief Economic Adviser KV Subramanian, the government projected the GDP or gross
domestic product to grow at 7 per cent in financial year 2019-20.The government is likely to stick to a modest rise in defence spending in
Budget because of tight government finances, news agency Reuters quoted officials as saying in a report earlier this week
That would further delay a long-planned military modernisation programme."The focus of the budget will be to boost domestic consumption,
address the rural crisis and support small manufacturers," Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP's economic affairs spokesman, told Reuters.Any
announcements aimed at addressing the crisis in the non-banking financial companies (NBFC) sector - also known as the shadow banking sector
- will be watched closely, say analysts
Last year, the government took control of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services after its defaults triggered fears about contagion
in the financial sector.In the interim Budget announcements in February, the government made a number of big ticket announcements to build
Those measures included a Rs 75,000-crore income guarantee scheme from small farmers and a full tax rebate to individuals earnings up to Rs
5 lakh a year.Get Breaking news, live coverage, and Latest News from India and around the world on TheIndianSubcontinent.com
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