Editorial

Abstract

The Union Finance Minister will present his last full budget on 1 February 2018 and the general expectation is it may be more a 'populist' budget. However, given the general electoral mood in the country and results of recent state elections, the present government may take some risky bets and introduce a few proposals which are required though not 'popular'. One such area is labour reform. Such reform may help in the government's goal of creating more jobs. Another area that people will expect the Honourable Minister to address to how to fuel economic growth. Will massive public investment and large scale disinvestment help the economy grow at above seven percent? The third area is agriculture- how to release stress in this sector and improve farm productivity.