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    When is Budget 2021 and what should you expect from it?

    Synopsis

    According to the first advance estimates, India's economy is projected to contract by 7.7 per cent in 2020-21. India's economy slipped into a technical recession after it posted two successive quarters of decline. But the contraction slowed down significantly in the second quarter of FY21 led by pent-up demand and a festive push.

    FMAgencies
    FM will present Budget on Feb 1.
    All eyes will be on the Budget that will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Feb 1, 2021. The Budget is being presented at a difficult juncture for the economy.

    According to the first advance estimates, India's economy is projected to contract by 7.7 per cent in 2020-21. India's economy slipped into a technical recession after it posted two successive quarters of decline. But the contraction slowed down significantly in the second quarter of FY21 led by pent-up demand and a festive push.

    Experts have predicted the economy to rebound sharply in the next fiscal on the back of low base effect and continued recovery. The Budget could be a key driver of growth.

    What to expect?
    The government has made it clear that it won't shy away from spending to revive the economy. The infrastructure push will have a multiplier effect on the economy.

    The FM has said that the deficit concerns won't hold her back from pump priming the economy by easing the purse strings.

    Any further tax sops could be difficult as the government is already grappling with a difficult revenue situation. The Budget could focus on generating more non-tax revenue and a large-scale asset sale programme could be on the cards.

    A paperless Budget
    Reports suggest that the finance ministry has done away with the Halwa ceremony and Budget 2021 will be paperless. Soft copies of the Budget could be circulated among Parliamentarians. These changes have been necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.


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    ( Originally published on Jan 14, 2021 )
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    Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

    Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.

    ...more
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