Budget 2025: Is India about to add more 'castes' in 2 days?
India Budget: In the Union Budget 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman categorised India’s key beneficiaries into four broad groups — youth, farmers, women and the poor. These “castes” (as she described them in her speech), Sitharaman said, would shape the government’s policy direction, driving welfare and development initiatives.
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As Budget 2025 approaches, the question remains: Who will emerge as the government’s focus this time — the four “castes” from last year or some new group/s?
Investors: Keeping the growth engine running in Budget 2025
India has experienced a sharp rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and a surge in domestic equity market participation. Gross inward FDI during April-November 2024 increased to $ 55.6 billion from $ 47.2 billion a year ago, according to the Reserve Bank of India's data (January 2025 bulletin).
To sustain this momentum, Budget 2025 could introduce policies aimed at easing regulatory frameworks, streamlining compliance, and offering tax incentives for both domestic and foreign investors. Moin Ladha, Partner at Khaitan & Co, believes the government may announce 100% FDI in the insurance sector, up from the current 74%, to attract global investors.
Capital markets, too, anticipate potential capital gains tax reforms,
