There were high hopes from the just-presented Union budget 2025-26, given the challenges facing the economy. There have been consistent signs of a slowdown in the economy, rising unemployment and persisting high inflation.
The unemployment rate in the last five quarters, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), has been hovering around 6.5 per cent of the labour force. This broad fact of the economy is often highlighted by the government to demonstrate that there is no immediate crisis in employment generation.
The 2025-26 Union Budget presents a crucial moment for India's healthcare trajectory.
Where's the actual allocation or fleshed-out policy that would the reverse economic slowdown that brought this year’s growth down to 6.4 pc?
The budget identifies trade as an engine of growth.
The Finance Minister could have proposed policies addressing India's urgent challenges, emphasizing strategic autonomy through critical technology advancements, improved education systems, and new urban development.
The IMPRI Center for Gender Impact Studies (GISC) at the IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute in New Delhi hosted a panel discussion titled "Gender, Social Inclusion, and Union Budget 2025–26