What is the best thing about this Budget?
The marks the FM is getting on this budget sure wouldn’t get him admission into Shri Ram College of Commerce. He’s averaging six or seven out of 10, as far as I can tell. Some nice things seem to have been done to encourage the small investor. Farmers benefit and so does infrastructure. HIV medication will be cheaper, which is good, and visits to the gym and beauty salon will cost more, which is good too, because yummy mummies make me want to hurl.
What is the worst thing about this Budget?
This negative list on what services are exempt from the service tax looks like its going to be a major fun-spoiler. Plus, because its gone up to 12 per cent, building my house is going to get more expensive. Basically, as I have no intention of importing a fancy car, there’s no good news in the budget for me.
Will this Budget revive the economy? is it bold enough?
The FM says the budget’s pro the small taxpayer, but I don’t think people with an income of Rs 2 lakh are going to be very happy with the news that they stand to save Rs 2,000 per month. As far as subsidies go, the PM talks of biting the bullet and consulting all allies in the same breath, so, um, good luck with that. I feel I should end this on a positive note, so I’ll just add that the FM looked like pretty cute in his dark blue bandhgala. Really.
Anuja Chauhan, Author, screenwriter and advertising consultant
