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]

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).