Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley. The prime minister has stated in the run-up to the Union budget, which is to be presented on Thursday, that it will not be populist in nature—that the common man wants honest governance, not freebies and sops. This week will bring the first of several tests the Narendra Modi government will face in 2018. The fact that growth continues to remain below potential and private investment weak adds further pressure. Finance minister Arun Jaitley will not have an easy time walking the Modi line.

Source: Mint January 28, 2018 17:48 UTC