Budget 2025: What people expect from FM Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1

The national Budget will be tabled on Saturday and midday caught up with various stakeholders market leaders and citizens to learn about their expectations from the budget which will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman This will be Sitharamanrsquos eighth budget presentation in parliament She has presented six annual budgets and one interim budget under the NDA governmentrsquos consecutive terms in power The budget is expected to include major changes in income tax slabs under the new tax regimeAs Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gears up to present the budget stakeholders from various sectors share their wishlists for economic growth and policy changes Representation picistockTransport and infrastructureShailesh Goyal former member of the National Railway Users Consultative CommitteeldquoWe are expecting proper and continued funding for the Mumbai Urban Transport Projects to sustain ongoing endeavours Last yearrsquos funding was adequate and took the projects to a crucial stage This year it is essential that these projects continue unhindered to maintain momentumrdquoAshok Datar transport expertldquoTaxes on private cars should be increased and redistributed to buses to encourage a fairer tax structuremdashhigher for private vehicles and lower for public transport This longoverdue correction is crucial We talk about promoting public transport yet we end up taxing buses more than cars While vehicle taxation falls under state jurisdiction a central policy intervention is necessary to address this disparityrdquoAviationMinistry of Civil Aviation analystThe analyst said ldquoThe Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 BVV which replaces the Aircraft Act 1934 has been approved by Parliament The BVV now includes crucial aspects of aircraft regulation such as design manufacturing and maintenance while eliminating inconsistencies in the previous law A uniform 5 per cent IGST reduced from 18 per cent has also been applied to imports of aircraft parts components and tooling providing a major boost to the MRO sectorrdquoThe analyst added ldquoIndian airlines have placed a record order for over 1600 aircraft and India is projected to become the worldrsquos thirdlargest aviation market by 2026 The large order book for widebody aircraft by Air India and IndiGo will also significantly increase the countryrsquos cargo capacity in the coming yearsrdquoAnother analyst said ldquoAirport infrastructure is struggling to keep up with rising passenger volumes leading to congestion The government aims to have 200 operational airports by 2025 with an investment of over Rs 92000 crore in greenfield and brownfield projects This is a welcome move but swift execution is critical Policies that ensure smooth land transitions for developers while addressing environmental concerns will be key Relief in aviation fuel taxes may also be expectedrdquoCitizen voicesMahesh Padaya selfemployedldquoThe Union government should consider every income tax payer There is a need to increase tax slabs and reduce GST on various products The government must also recognise the struggles of firstgeneration middleclass entrepreneurs like me Many businesses are suffering due to GST and their concerns should be addressedrdquoSenior citizensrsquo expectationsSailesh Mishra founder and president of Silver Inning a senior citizen associationldquoWe have paid taxes all our lives and now the government should think about us The 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax GST on senior citizensrsquo health insurance and elderly care services like nursing and accommodation should be removed Additionally mental illness should be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme which currently lacks secure provisions for such illnesses In 2020 the Union government discontinued railway concessions for senior citizens and it is high time they were restored Last year we received nothing as per our expectationsrdquoEnvironment amp climate changeRushikesh Chavan head of The Habitats TrustldquoIndiarsquos economic growth must align with sustainability Budgetary allocations for climate resilience technological research and regenerative development models are critical Funds should also be allocated for mitigating the environmental impact of infrastructure projectsrdquoKedar Gore wildlife conservationist The Corbett FoundationldquoThe budget for wildlife and environmental protection should be increased by at least 100 per cent The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change MoEFCC plays a vital role in safeguarding Indiarsquos natural capital and must receive funding on par with infrastructure ministries Additional financial support is needed for wildlife conservation habitat restoration and upgrading forest department resources including better salaries and benefits for frontline forest personnel Timely fund disbursement to state governments is also crucialrdquoVikram Sankaranarayanan executive director Policy Advocacy Research CentreldquoA special budgetary provision should be made for wildlife sanctuaries to procure thirdparty research services integrating this into the operational framework of each statersquos wildlife departmentrdquoManoj Bansal Partner Grant Thornton BharatldquoThe budget will likely emphasise clean energy and green technology Support for domestic carbon markets and incentives for private investments in climate solutions are anticipated Green jobsmdashfocused on sustainability and clean energymdashshould also be a priorityrdquoReal estateAnuj Puri Chairman Anarock GroupldquoNationally rising property prices have led to a slowdown in luxury housing This could be a turning point for the affordable housing segment Any major budget announcement supporting affordable housing could provide the necessary boost to this sector Even if such measures donrsquot trigger a fullblown revival they can improve its overall prospects A healthy housing market should cater to a broad range of buyers instead of favouring just one segmentrdquoEducationDr Prof Anand Achari principal VES College of ArchitectureldquoThe education sector hopes for continued focus on higher education digital infrastructure and rural connectivity Over 60 per cent of Indiarsquos rural population still lacks reliable internet access limiting online education Addressing this gap is crucial to prevent exclusion Additionally strengthening skillbased training and fostering industryacademia collaboration will better align curricula with job market demands Faster implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and streamlining patent applications within educational institutions will also encourage research and innovationrdquoDr Maithili Tambe CEO The Academy School PuneldquoThe government must bridge accessibility gaps in education Increased scholarship funds for marginalised communities and sustainable allowances covering tuition transportation and digital resources are needed Meritbased scholarships in STEM and the arts should be expanded to ensure financial constraints donrsquot hinder studentsrsquo ambitionsrdquoDr Ramakrishnan Raman vicechancellor Symbiosis International UniversityldquoA visionary budget must prioritise increased financing for higher education through innovative financial mechanisms and investment avenues ensuring longterm sustainability and accessibilityrdquoPrajodh Rajan cofounder and CEO of Lighthouse LearningldquoAllocating 6 per cent of GDP to education is essential Strengthening digital infrastructure in schools expanding access to quality preschools and investing in teacher training will prepare students for future challenges A wellfunded education sector will drive economic growth and societal progressrdquoHealth skilling and employmentVarun Satia founder amp CEO KraftshalaldquoThe Union Budget 2025 must move beyond incremental measures and introduce transformative steps to bridge the gap between education skilling and employability While last yearrsquos focus on employmentlinked skilling schemes and financial support for education loans was promising systemic change is needed Strengthening the Model Skilling Loan Scheme and including targeted funding for industryaligned shortterm certifications will help enhance employability in dynamic fields such as marketing technology and digital innovationrdquo