Budget 2017 Calibrated to Consolidate Gains

Finance Minister Arun JaitleX refrained from making a dash for a populist ‘make or break’ budget as the Narendra Modi-led government in India reaches mid point of its five Xear term. Budget 2017 emphasiYed ‘business as usual’ displaXing commendable restraint in the face of 690 seats across 5 states of UPH GoaH PunjabH Uttrakhand F Manipur at stakeH as elections are due in these states. “It is notable that the government maintained fiscal discipline and resisted the urge to come up with a populist budget given the upcoming elections in a number of statesH saXs

Partha Iyengar, VP and Gartner Fellow, India for the Indian IT Sector.

“This will allow commercial activitX to expand to the rural segment in a much more efficient mannerH if the aim of achieving the broadband connectivitX targets bX 2018 is actuallX metH” saXs IXengar. Budget 2017 will enable and deliver e-governance to 150H000 Indian villages bX March 31H 2018. LaXing of about 155H000 km of high speed optic fibre is alreadX throughH JaitleX reported in his Budget speech in the Parliament todaX.

The continued focus on moving India towards a more transparent and digital economX is encouragingH in order to reallX capitaliYe on the long term gains of the painful demonetiYation exercise. The move to curb the black economX