Focus on rural boost, little for middle class

The interim budget laid out several key measures that are likely to assist rural employment and boost farmer income amid a weak demand for packaged goods reported from villages. However, companies said the budget did little to address subdued consumer demand among lower middle-income households.

- Suneera Tandon

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in the interim budget that capital expenditure increased by 11.1% to ₹11.1 trillion. The government also announced plans to step up efforts for value addition in the agricultural sector and boosting farmers' income, apart from promoting private and public investment in postharvest activities. Through rooftop solarization, 10 million households will be enabled to obtain up to 300 units free electricity every month. There has also been a year-on-year jump in allocation to the rural jobs programme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to ₹86,0