Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed strong criticism of the Union Budget 2025, accusing the government of being "bankrupt of ideas" and failing to offer innovative solutions to India’s economic crisis amid growing global uncertainty. Reacting to the Budget 2025 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Gandhi posted on social media, stating, "A band-aid for bullet wounds!" highlighting what he believes is the government’s inability to implement the paradigm shift needed to overcome the current economic challenges.

In his comments, Gandhi noted the absence of a clear plan to address the weak economic growth India has experienced in recent years, pointing out that the global geopolitical risks and challenges faced by the country require more than just incremental solutions. He also raised concerns about the exclusion of Dalits, tribals, backward classes, and minorities in the budget-making process, suggesting that the absence of these communities' voices in the budget is a sign of the government's disconnect from India’s diverse needs.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made some notable announcements aimed at benefiting the middle class. She unveiled income tax exemptions for individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh annually, an increase from the previous ₹7 lakh threshold. This reform aims to ease the tax burden on the middle class, enabling more savings, consumption, and investment. Despite this, opposition parties have raised concerns that the reforms fall short in addressing the broader economic challenges facing the country.

Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan welcomed the income tax exemption, but described the overall budget as a disappointment, especially in terms of its allocation for states and its failure to address key economic issues. Similarly, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee criticized the budget for focusing on upcoming state elections rather than the needs of common people. Banerjee pointed out that last year’s budget announcements were tailored for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, and this year’s budget seemed to focus on Bihar in the run-up to the Bihar elections.

The DMK's Dayanidhi Maran also expressed disappointment with the budget, calling it a "big letdown" for middle-class families. He pointed out the contradiction between the tax exemptions for those earning up to ₹12 lakh and the 10% tax slab introduced for incomes between ₹8 to ₹10 lakh, which he argued would place an undue financial burden on these earners.

As India continues to face its weakest economic growth since the pandemic, and with the global economic uncertainty continuing to affect the country’s outlook, many political leaders are looking for more robust interventions in future budgets. India’s growth for the current fiscal year is projected at 6.4%, well below the 8% required to meet Prime Minister Modi’s 2047 development goals.

The government’s projections for the next fiscal year expect growth to be between 6.3% and 6.8%, leaving many wondering if such modest growth targets will be enough to address the significant challenges India faces, including inflation, job creation, and economic diversification.

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