More ‘Sixes’ Incoming? Interim Budget By FM Jaitley On 1 February In Last Sitting Of The Sixteenth Lok Sabha

The government is finalising the dates for the budget session - the last sitting of the sixteenth Lok Sabha, reports Mint. The budget session is likely to run from 31 January to 13 February. Finance minister Arun Jaitley will present an interim budget on 1 February.

According to the report, the finance minister does not announce any new programmes that could give the government an electoral advantage and impose a financial burden beyond the initial four months of the fiscal.

Mint also quoted the principal economic adviser in the finance ministry, Sanjeev Sanyal, saying that there might be “some policy guidance” in the interim budget. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders said the interim budget could focus on social upliftment and welfare and provide an outline for the next five years, if the NDA comes back to power.

"Petrol prices are under the control and management of inflation is good. Direct tax collection has increased, which means greater availability of resources. The focus of the government has been the socially and financially weaker section, and it would further get strengthened in the budget," Mint quoted a senior BJP leader.