Dr Martin Patrick, Chief Economic Adviser, Centre for Public Policy Research, on Budget 2018

“The Union Budget 2018–19 creates the impression of being a budget focussing on the rural sector, but there is no drastic allocation towards the sector. Though the allocation of Rs 11 lakh crore as agriculture credit is a novel proposal, this is not a budgeted amount. The budget has also failed to fulfil the expectations of providing concrete measures to boost investments in the country, which has declined from 35% to less than 27%. The proposal to modernise the railways keeping safety and security as key aspects is laudable. Overall, this is a reform-oriented budget well stocked with populist policies aimed at the impending elections.”