The Narendra Modi government's last annual budget is just around the corner. With all eyes trained on the BJP in this final lap, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will table the Budget on 1 February. And we are all set to bring you the updates – as things unfold –with our exclusive budget coverage: 'De Dana Dhan'.
Watch this space to catch all the updates live as the government arranges funds for its last year of governance, before 2019 brings poll fever.
Will PM Modi fulfil his electoral promise of lower income tax rates?
The government has failed to see this promise through so far, and this year's budget announcement might be their chance last.
What about the share market?
The share market has had a good run the past year, which means that the government could now tax short-term capital gains for up to three years. Another manner to increase capital is by selling off shares.
However, when the government attempts to disinvest a PSU, the shares are most often bought by another PSU – which becomes a mere transfer of accounts, not revenue generation.
In the meantime, the government has lent a hand to the heavily debt-ridden public sector banks by enabling them to recapitalise. Keeping to this trajectory, the government is now expected to take drastic measures to improve the public-sector banking system and also increase private investment.
In all, the government now has three choices – a safe budget, a revolutionary budget, or a populist budget.
To know which way Jaitley will sway, watch this space.
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