Alok, a professor, and Pavan, a research associate, are affiliated with the School of Economics at the University of HyderabadUrban India has much to cheer about from the Budget for 2025-2026. The proposed tax relief is expected to have a multiplier effect through increased disposable income and leave more room for savings for the country’s middle class. However, there’s much the budget also misses out on. In her eighth consecutive budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that urban development was a key domain, but the numbers point to a different story. Let’s examine how recent budgets have addressed urbanisation and whether this approach can tackle urban India's challenges.
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