Following the presentation of NDA-led government’s’ fourth consecutive budget on 01 February 2017, the VIF assembled a high-powered panel, comprising India’s best-known economists - Mr. Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog and Dr. Bimal Jalan, among others -to share their thoughts on the budget and its long term impact for the economy of India. The discussion also entailed an assessment of a few big-bang measures including the ‘de-monitisation’ drive and the Goods &Services Tax (GST), and their impact on Indian economy.
The rationale for merging the Railway budget with the main budget, abrogating the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure, and advancing the date budget presentation were also covered. Hailing the budget as visionary, the experts opined that it puts India on a faster growth trajectory. They however urged the government not to lose its momentum on economic reforms.