Between the lines: Decoding the budget from Nirmala Sitharaman's statements

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

budget Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present on February 1. From cutting down subsidies to slowing down capital expenditure to control fiscal deficit to targeting different voter groups with welfare measures,
Amid all the expectations and demands from the budget and speculation and expert commentary about what all the budget might contain, what Sitharaman herself has been saying recently, not necessarily related to the budget, can yield good pointers to the direction of the upcoming budget.

No big-bang budget?

A significant statement SItharaman made last month has brought down expectations from the upcoming budget. Speaking at the Global Economic Policy forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), she said, “I am not going to play a spoilsport, but it is a matter of truth that the February 1, 2024, budget that will be announced will just be a vote on account because we will be in an election mode. The budget that the government presents will just be to meet the expenditure of the government till a new government comes to play."

“No spectacular announcements come at that time (in a vote on account). So, you will have to wait till after the new government comes in and presents the next full budget in July 2024,” said the FM.

• Budget with a hint of polls: Will Modi bet on popularity over populism?

  Modi govt’s push for finding fertile grounds to tap farm votes

  Modi govt needs to feed the youth with JOSH in the upcoming Budget

  Budget 2024: What to watch out for in India’s pre-Lok Sabha election Budget

However, she was speaking at an industry event and can be understood to be talking about major policy shifts. Her statement can't rule out what a pre-poll interim budget is