Budget looks to strike balance between fiscal prudence, populist measures

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday talked about fiscal prudence and better tax administration as part of his ten-point agenda while presenting the Budget. Jaitley said that the government would "spend more and maintain fiscal prudence". 

This is seen as an attempt to avoid fiscal activism in the Budget while still maintaining leeway to spend on populist measures. 

Going by the finance minister's speech, no significant relaxation in fiscal deficit target can be expected.