Budget 2025: Mixed reactions from Mumbai residents, professionals

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the Union Budget 2025 as a ldquoDream Budgetrdquo that will not only bolster the national economy but also support the statersquos growth initiatives Fadnavis emphasised the budgetrsquos focus on key sectors such as agriculture MSMEs and startups alongside significant relief for the middle class salaried workers farmers and youthHe said the change in income tax exemption limit will stimulate demand increase purchasing power and create more employment opportunities The Budget also includes measures for the agricultural sector including interestfree loans for fishermen and incentives for oilseed production For Maharashtra Fadnavis said the key allocations in rural connectivity agribusiness and economic clusters as well as the new infrastructure policy would drive development in the state particularly through publicprivate partnershipsWhile senior citizens are disappointed the youth feel hope PicGetty ImagesEchoing similar views Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde termed it as a ldquopeoplersquos Budgetrdquo and described it as unprecedented ldquoThis will lead the country to a different orbit of progress as sectors like health education and agriculture will benefit from the provision and announcements made in the Budgetrdquo Shinde addedDisappointed welcoming Mumbai residents react to Budget 2025Sailesh Mishra Founder Silver InningsVery disappointed at the total neglect of 149 million senior citizens The only relief senior citizens got is doubling of the tax deduction limit on interest income for senior citizens There is no vikas for old people in ldquoSabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayasrdquo Itrsquos sad that the government did not withdraw the 18 per cent GST on senior citizensrsquo health insurance and elder care servicesAvneet Jotwani AcademicianFocus on MSMEs and startups with increased limits is a welcome move It will spur women entrepreneurs in the country to realise their dreams and make a good livingPooja Kamat HousewifeIncrease in tax slab exemption is welcome move which will give more disposable income to the middle class boosting household consumption savings and investmentVini Verdia Social media influencerSocial media influencers are a big factor in todayrsquos time so special focus should be given to them like reduced custom duty on equipment for vlogging and special status like engineers and medical professionalsCA Kirti Singh Mother of Aakriti Singh who has SMA type 1It is disappointing that therapies for Spinal Muscular Atrophy SMA a severe neuromuscular disorder that leads to infant mortality have not been considered Risdiplam a genemodifying oral therapy for SMA costs around R6 lakh per bottle lasting only a month for children as young as three years old making it unaffordable for most families Given the governmentrsquos commitment to supporting patients with rare diseases it is crucial to extend similar exemptions to SMA treatments ensuring that children battling this lifethreatening condition receive timely and affordable careAlpana Sharma CoFounder and Trustee CureSMA IndiaThe government has exempted GST on medicines and food for special medical purposes FSMP imported for personal use but it only applies to what is imported for personal use not for domestic and commercially available medications GST exemption on commercially available rare diseases drugs in India can bring down the cost significantly making it more affordable and reduce the burden of the diseaseProf Shailesh V Shrikhande Deputy Director Tata Memorial HospitalThis is an excellent initiative of the Government of India A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step a step in the right direction Affordability accessibility and availability of skilled support systems would be the key to the ultimate success of this superb ideaArun Prakash M Founder and CEO of GUVI Geek Networks ChennaiThe governmentrsquos emphasis on AI and upskilling will have a longterm favourable impact on Indian talents The growing emphasis on AI has been addressed well by inviting investments in AI for drug discovery Upskilling in relevant tech education will be imperativeDr Venkat Rangan ViceChancellor Amrita Vishwa VidyapeethamThe emphasis on expanding access to quality education strengthening research capabilities and fostering scientific thinking will play a transformative role in shaping Indiarsquos future We welcome these progressive measures and look forward to aligning with the nationrsquos visionRajeev Tiwari Co Founder STEMROBO TechnologiesThe announcements highlight a forwardthinking vision for Indiarsquos growth The decision to expand broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools is a gamechanger It will not only bridge the digital divide but also ensure that students across the country have access to the same learning opportunities These measures will strengthen the adoption of 21stcentury skills in schools and encourage students to develop competencies such as critical thinking problemsolving and digital literacyDr B Priestly Shan ViceChancellor Alliance UniversityThe Budget 2025 reflects a progressive vision for strengthening Indiarsquos education skilling and research ecosystem We look forward to collaborative opportunities between public and private institutions to drive innovation research and skillbased learning that align with Indiarsquos longterm development goalsPravesh Dudani Founder and Chancellor Medhavi Skills UniversityBudget 202526 is a crucial step towards advancing skill development and employability of Indian youth We are particularly excited about the industryacademia collaboration opportunities and the proposal to remove Tax Collected at Source TCS on education loans up to R10 lakh which will make higher education more accessiblePieter Elbers CEO IndiGoThe Union Budget 2025 has outlined various great initiatives to further develop a futureready travel ecosystem with emphasis on people and infrastructure and aviation as a key enabler Investment in developing worldclass airports enhancing regional connectivity capacity upgrades procedures regulatory framework and streamlined visa facilities will all play a critical role in bringing this vision of developing India into a global aviation hub to lifeAjay Singh Chairman and Managing Director SpiceJetThis is a forwardlooking middleclassfriendly budget that promises to boost spending stimulate development and set the stage for Indiarsquos growth in the coming years The aviation landscape in India is set for a transformative shift The UDAN initiative will not only make air travel more accessible to remote regions but will also drive economic growth and tourism further empowering local economiesSimran Singh Tiwana CEO Star AirStar Air welcomes the governmentrsquos announcement of the modified UDAN scheme The revised taxation system is expected to drive significant economic growth in emerging regions Improved air access will not only boost tourism but also stimulate local economiesAshok Vashist Founder and CEO WTiCabsAlong with the UDAN modifications customs duty adjustments supporting EV manufacturing will further strengthen sustainability goals by enabling a smoother transition to electric mobility while leveraging solarpowered EV charging infrastructure ensuring an ecofriendly and costeffective transportation networkKrishna Hegde Spokesperson Shiv SenaItrsquos a budget for the middle class and also benefits farmers youth IT health sector industry and women An allencompassing budget for Viksit Bharat driving India to a 5trilliondollar economyJaspreet Singh Partner and GCC Industry Leader Grant Thornton BharatThe Budgetrsquos focus on expanding talent availability and infrastructure in Tier2 cities marks a significant step in strengthening Indiarsquos Global Capability Centre GCC ecosystem By unlocking access to a wider talent pool including professionals who prefer to stay in their hometowns this initiative will enhance workforce stability and retention Improved infrastructure will further enable seamless operations making Tier2 cities attractive destinations for highvalue global workSudhir Pai CEO MagicbricksThe governmentrsquos plan to develop 50 top tourist destinations will boost local economies and drive real estate growth Improved infrastructure and rising tourism are increasing demand for residential commercial and hospitality properties making these areas prime investment hubs Lifestyle destinations like Goa Nainital and Dehradun are already witnessing strong buyer interest and the trend highlights a growing preference for second homes that double as incomegenerating assets further fuelling real estate expansion in these highdemand locationsAbhishek Mohan Gupta Founder and Board President Shrewsbury International SchoolThe budget showcases a progressive approach The governmentrsquos focus on newage technology and innovation is evident and the creation of dedicated centres to promote upskilling highlights its commitment to boosting vocational training and employment opportunities for young graduates I am hopeful that the initiatives introduced in the Budget 202526 will contribute to an enriching educational environment across all educational institutes in IndiaDr Anunaya Chaubey Provost and Dean Anant National UniversityEstablishing five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling will empower the youth and prepare them for global opportunities Adding broadband connectivity in all government secondary schools will bridge the digital divide and enhance learning outcomesDilip Gangaramani Founder Director and CEO Target Learning VenturesThe governmentrsquos commitment to establishing Atal Tinkering Labs in 50000 government schools over the next five years is a truly welcome move It will provide students with invaluable opportunities to develop their creativity problemsolving skills and passion for STEM fields By investing in infrastructure technology and AI education the government is laying a strong foundation for a futureready IndiaAmit Kumar Partner amp Climate Ecosystem Leader Grant Thornton BharatExempting basic customs duty on lithiumion battery waste cobalt powder etc will accelerate Indiarsquos transition to selfreliance in clean technology and sustainable energy In addition to driving industrial growth it will reinforce Indiarsquos position as a global leader in renewable energy and battery storageClyde Crasto National spokesperson NCPThe only thing missing today was the presentation of the Budget 202526 in BhojpuriUday Deshmukh Chairman amp Founder of Onco Life Cancer CenterWe are heartened by the announcement of cancer care centres in every district hospital as this step aligns with our mission of ldquocancerfree Indiardquo The government also proposed exempting 36 lifesaving drugs from basic customs duties which will reduce the financial burden on patientsDr Swati Popat Vats President Early Childhood Association and Association for Preparatory Education and ResearchLetrsquos take a step back and view the budget more holistically and we will realise that improvement and impact in education especially the foundational years does not happen only with viewing the allotment of certain funds We need to view the larger picture If we want the National Curriculum Framework NCF 2022 to impact more children then we need to invest in toy pedagogy and that is the focus of this yearrsquos budget Letrsquos also view it in the lens of the ASER report States are empowered with R1020 lakh each to conduct comprehensive assessments track the progress of learning outcomes of students and identify gaps in teaching and learning practices To ensure seamless implementation and oversight R25 lakh to R1 crore is provided for establishing robust Project Management Units at the state and district levels The budget 2025 still retains this to ensure our vision for 2030 is achieved