Bhopal, February 7: Hemant Khandelwal, the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Madhya Pradesh unit, stated that the central government’s budget includes historic provisions aimed at empowering women, enabling them to become socially and economically strong.
While addressing a women’s dialogue event as part of the promotional campaign for the 2026-27 Union Budget, Khandelwal emphasized that the budget presented under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is designed not only with the future in mind but also aims to steer the country in a new direction. He highlighted that the Prime Minister has prioritized women’s empowerment, and the budget includes significant measures to enhance women’s economic, social, and political status.
Khandelwal noted a shift in public perception since 2014, mentioning that there has been a significant change in the mindset towards tax payment. People now prefer to pay taxes honestly rather than seeking ways to evade them, which he attributes to the Modi government’s influence. He expressed confidence that India’s economy will emerge as one of the strongest and most robust globally. This budget reflects a commitment to ensuring women’s rights while also taking substantial steps to strengthen the overall economic condition of the country.
He pointed out that when Prime Minister Modi took office in 2014, India was ranked as the 11th largest economy, grappling with high unemployment and inadequate infrastructure. At that time, tax collection was insufficient to cover government employees’ salaries. The income tax slab was as high as 60% during the 1980s and 1990s, with an additional 12% surcharge. Furthermore, individuals were required to contribute 4% under the compulsory deposit scheme and 15% to the Public Provident Fund (PPF).
Khandelwal mentioned that the government’s total expenditure and intervention in GDP is currently around 56%, with a goal to reduce it to approximately 50%. He highlighted the potential transformation in India’s tourism sector with the development of the Buddhist circuit, which is expected to attract both domestic and international tourists. This year’s defense budget has increased by 15%, marking a crucial step toward enhancing national security. Many countries have achieved economic progress through tourism, and India is rapidly advancing in this direction.
