Budget 2017 is for long-term growth, say CII members

Industry hopes that thrust on rural job creation, agriculture growth may boost consumption

The Gulmohar Hall at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi’s Lodhi Road was packed with senior corporate executives, industry leaders and media persons since 10:40 am– half an hour before the finance minister started his budget speech. The tensed mood inside the hall was evident from the fact that there were barely any other noise except for Jaitley’s voice that echoed from a number of speakers installed in the area.

Their somber faces, however, lit up briefly as soon as the finance minister made announcements regarding personal tax after over an hour of the speech. A light hum, arising out