Experts Speak

S C Garg

DEA Secy

Had planned Rs 71,000 Cr buyback of shares but did not carry out much buybacks. Direct Income Support of Rs 6000/pa to farmers is part of other schemes & subsidies. Direct Income Support is over and above other schemes for poor, marginal farmers.

Smriti Irani

Textile Minister

The Congress needs to explain why they never initiated direct income support for farmers. Today's budget IS being celebrated by middle-class, as well as rural sectors. The current govt was left with empty treasury on back of various scams by the previous one. The Congress handed over an extremely weak economy to the NDA Govt.

P Chidambaram

Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha

Most announcements were last minutes changes keeping the Lok Sabha elections in mind. The government does not care for fiscal deficit or the situation of the economy.

Pawan Goenka

Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd

The budget was more or less on expected lines but relief to middle-class and pension for workers was a positive surprise. It was a responsible budget given the fiscal situation of the economy and a burden of Rs 75,000 Cr due to budget measures is very much manageable. PM Kissan Yojana will boost the rural economy and agriculture equipment sector.

J C Sharma

Vice-chairman & Managing Director, Sobha Ltd

Measures announced in budget will help boost housing sector in a big way. Rollover of capital gains, ease on notional rent will entice more investment in housing sector. Extension in period for tax on unsold inventory will help boost housing sales.

Anand Mahindra

Chairman, Mahindra Group

Grateful that relief to middle class & farm segments has been delivered in a measured way. Relief was given to the poor & middle class without risking bankruptcy of economy. The budget was a controlled, pump-priming exercise.

Adi Godrej

Chairman, Godrej Group

Several good announcements were made to boost economy. PM Kisan Yojana will benefit numerous farmers, and steps announced for animal husbandry will boost income of the sector. Personal tax relief measures announced will increase consumption and boost economy.

Sanjiv Bhasin

EVP-Markets & Corporate Affairs at India Infoline Ltd

Will give 9/10 rating to this budget. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal tried to do the best with the limited resources he had. Budget only a statement of accounts, stock specific action will take front seat now.

Nitin Gadkari

Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation

Remarkable step by Finance Minister to provide relief to farmers under PM Kissan Yojana. The key focus of the budget is on the poor & marginalised people of the nation. Income tax relief for the middleclass is a phenomenal step. We got an allocation of Rs 85,000 Cr for road ministry under the budget.

Keki Mistry

Vice Chairman and CEO, HDFC

Budget had something for everyone, and was quite practical. It focused on housing, rural economy & consumption. Housing sector will have indirect benefit from tax relief for people as property developers and home buyers will also benefit from extension of the tax relief timeline.

Deepak Parekh

Non-executive Chairman, HDFC

It is a very practical budget. Capital gain exemption on sale of housing is a big positive and the government's intent to reduce GST on housing shows that the government is serious about the housing sector. The government has taken care of farmers & the middle class in an effective way. It's understandable that there was no change in corporate tax as it was the interim budget; expect some relief on corporate tax in full budget to be announced later this year.