Experts pitch structural reforms in pre-budget talks

Suggestions for farreaching structural changes rather than short-term sectoral gains dominated pre-budget consultations chaired by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman with experts and stakeholders proposing fundamental bureaucratic reforms, tax on vacant land and dedicated world-class street vending areas to make India a developed nation by 2047, people familiar with the matter said.

- Rajeev Jayaswal [e-mail]

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

(AN)

So far, three meetings have taken place since Monday and the government, experts, industries and invited stakeholders have all focused on the objective of making India a developed nation, they added, asking not to be named. The minister has thus far chaired three pre-budget consultation sessions covering economists, the agriculture sector, and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).