With a fiscal deficit target of 3.5 %, government had come up with a very growth oriented and a balanced budget which may fetch positive results in long run.

The passage of GST in Rajya Sabha is a landmark reform. A critical milestone towards Free Trade within India. It will also give a massive push to Make in India especially MSMEs. The ease and cost of doing business will receive a fillip and the width of the tax base will be enhanced.”

These include the development of satellite cities, incentives for REITs, an increase in allocation for Rural Housing to the NHB and an increase in the tax exemption for interest paid on home loans.

The National Housing Bank has received an allocation of Rs.8000 crore for this program, which will have. I am especially enthusiastic about the Rs. 7060 crore allocation towards the government’s program for creating 100 smart city projects.

The FM has given much-needed relief to individual tax payers by raising the income tax exemption limit by 50,000 and has also raised the limit of the interest part of home loans from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh.

This coupled with overall increase in investments in highways and tax holidays for power plants will definitely contribute in kick starting the capex cycle in various industries.

The relief provided on individual income tax and interest on housing loans is very significant for the budget homes sector, since these measures have greatest pertinence to the more financially sensitive home buyers.

To boost the manufacturing sector, especially the SME sector, the 15% investment allowance has been extended to investment in plant and machinery of Rs. 25 crore if made within the next 3 years.

Higher budgetary allocation & duty rationalisation are positive for the clean energy sector. The announcement of ultra mega solar projects in four states is expected to facilitate a large sized solar capacity addition in the country & would also encourage domestic manufacturing of solar projects.