<b>Soumya Kanti Ghosh:</b> Budget for everyone

The agriculture sector has also received specific focus in the Budget

The good thing regarding the Union Budget numbers is that despite a market cacophony, the Budget has not deviated from its long term goal of fiscal consolidation. Interestingly, at Rs5.46 lakh crore or 3.2 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), there is an absolute expansion in fiscal deficit by only Rs12,258 crore, nearly equivalent to Rs12,800 crore give way on account of personal income tax concessions. Thus the Budget is nicely balanced in terms of arithmetic. 

Net borrowings in the Budget has been pegged at Rs 3.48 lakh crore, after adjusting for Rs75,000-crore switch but contingent on a