Thread by @mihirssharma

Piyush Goyal claiming govt told RBI to clean up bank balance sheets. In fact they have spent the past few years demanding the RBI weaken its zero tolerance policy on non performing loans!

Govt has missed its fiscal deficit target. But the worry is that even this 3.4% may have been achieved by fudging data, as the CAG pointed out last month. #InterimBudget2019

So, as expected, an income support programme announced. But if there is funding then it will be an unfortunate breach of propriety for an interim Budget. Rs 72K crore is not a lot for such a programme though #InterimBudget2019

Rashtriya Kamdhenu Mission announced. "Gau mata samman", says Goyal. Frankly this government's entire economic policy has been this only, why did they need a separate mission #InterimBudget2019

Major new unorganised sector pension scheme. Smaller contributions than the last one, perhaps that will help this one work? scroll.in/article/829092…

#InterimBudget2019

One question - many "achievements" and programmes are being boasted of. Has Goyal mentioned 'Make in India' yet? #InterimBudget2019

First farmers, then unorganised sector, then govt employees, now MSMEs... This Budget speech is divided into vote banks more than anything else #InterimBudget2019

The storied Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is to be renamed to also focus on "internal trade". The government is giving up on manufacturing, one feels. #InterimBudget2019

Now soldiers and then NRIs. I have to admit this is all solidly impressive populism. These guys are not amateurs when it comes to trying to buy votes! #InterimBudget2019

Nitin Desai on India Today's #SpeechAnalytica: "Budget 2019-20 or Pradhan Mantri Relection Yojana?"

Ah, finally a "Make in India" mention - but in the context of the Railways, which is very controversial.

Next 'Make in India' mention was to do with the customs architecture. All other reform didn't even get mentioned.... #InterimBudget2019

For me the biggest change so far has been the flat 6% GST on service providers with turnover below 50 lakhs. Let's look at the fine print

It seems the numbers on GST are really disappointing... Indirect tax growth was predicted to be 23%, may be just 6%. Massive fiscal hole thanks to poor design and difficult compliance

According to Anshuman Tiwari over at #SpeechAnalytica from India Today, the total GST shortfall is "estimated at Rs 1.5 trillion or. 0.8% of GDP"

Now he's promising a competent and responsive bureaucracy. I can't believe the entire Lok Sabha didn't die of laughter #InterimBudget2019

I love the way that applause and chants break out for the big tax cut, and not for the farmers support - tells you the REAL class basis of the BJP, whatever they might claim

My god they're exempting rent on a second house, who suggested that #InterimBudget2019

Arre bhai people don't have one house and government is busy focusing on people who have two! What suit-boot nonsense is this? #InterimBudget2019

"Yeh interim Budget nahin hai", admits the Interim FM #InterimBudget2019