Budget not a propaganda vehicle, restore its real purpose

With rising media interest in Budgets over the years governments have used them as propaganda vehicles

The presentation of the Union Budget to Parliament is fast changing from the Constitutional requirement which speaks only of an annual statement about the receipts and expenditures of the government. One can understand the presentation going beyond this and dealing with the macroeconomic situation and offering proposals that fall within the remit of the finance minister. However, over the years, governments, eager to use the wide media and public attention that the Budget presentation attracts, are making it a propaganda vehicle for sketchy sectoral initiatives that can capture media attention.

This year’s Budget is a prime example of this. Out of