Opinion | Budget 2024: Allies In Good Humor, Marginal Relief For Middle Class

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented the first budget of Modi 3.0 with a focus on four major segments: 'Garib' (Poor), 'Mahilayen' (Women), 'Yuva' (Youth), and 'Annadata' (Farmer). The budget reflects the mandate of 2024 by addressing critical concerns while laying the groundwork for a developed India by 2047.

While keeping crucial allies like the JDU and the TDP in good humour, the government has recognized unemployment as one of the foremost challenges facing the country, while offering modest tax relief to middle-class taxpayers.

The budget underscores the reality that it's an NDA government at the Centre, not just the BJP's. With dependencies on allies like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have received special mentions and allocations in the budget. Together, their 28 MPs out of 293 NDA MPs, comprising 10% of the coalition, wield considerable influence. Both parties, despite their demands for special status being technically unfeasible, have secured substantial packages.