Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2025 on February 1, 2025. As always, the middle class is hopeful that the Narendra Modi government will announce income tax relief.
During pre-budget discussions, RSS-affiliated organisations proposed several reforms, including raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs 10 lakh, introducing an agriculture-focused package, increasing MGNREGA workdays to 200, expediting GST refunds, and formulating a robust manufacturing strategy to curb Chinese imports.
Representatives of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), led by Pawan Kumar, submitted their recommendations to Sitharaman on Monday. According to an ET report, BMS called for extending MGNREGA to ensure 200 workdays per family annually and demanded a dedicated package for labour-intensive sectors like agriculture, plantations, beedi, and fisheries.
The organisation also advocated for the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission, tax exemption up to Rs 10 lakh, and a shift from NPS and UPS to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Additional proposals included doubling the gratuity calculation period to 30 days per year from 15 days and exempting pensioners from taxes.
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Laghu Udyog Bharati, representing small and medium enterprises, recommended faster GST refund processing, an amnesty scheme for minor GST filing errors, and adjustments to GST rates.
Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) called for GST exemptions on agricultural inputs, regular increases in PM Kisan Nidhi, and direct fertiliser subsidy transfers to farmers’ accounts.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch, represented by Ashwini Mahajan, raised concerns about India’s trade deficit with China. They emphasised the need for strong manufacturing policies, including tariffs and trade measures, to promote domestic production and reduce dependence on imports.