Social sector: The emphasis of Budget is on the consolidation of schemes

The government has ring-fenced financial outlays for various social sectors, and this is reflected in nominal increases and efforts to make them more effective

The finance minister has taken a pragmatic approach in the last full budget before the general election next year. There is a clear departure from the past three budgets, where the focus was on cushioning the adverse impact created on the poor and rural areas, post-pandemic. The Union Budget 2023-24 largely ring-fences financial outlays made to various social sectors, and it is reflected in nominal increases and consolidation of schemes and programmes to make them more effective.

It is anticipated that actual spends would be more demand-driven in key schemes such as MNREGA and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM),