The exercise to prepare the annual budget in India is a long-drawn one that has to deftly juggle political pressures, conflicting demands, the economy’s priorities and utmost secrecy. For decades, the last working day of February has come to be associated with the annual budget. Though the budget is presented in February, currently several tax proposals kick in only from June after Parliament passes the annual finance bill in May. Advancing the budget would conclude the process by March allowing for the changes to roll out from the beginning of the financial year. Advancing the budget to January is an idea worth examining, but not without taking every political stakeholder on board.

Source: Hindustan Times August 22, 2016 14:15 UTC