Unlike in most countries of the world, the Budget unusually holds widespread public interest in India. However, the Budget due on February 1 has an exceptionally heightened sense of anticipation -- for a variety of reasons.
It is the first Budget after the culmination of the last Five Year Plan, the first to end many other colonial legacies and traditions like a separate railway budget, and, most importantly, the first since the idea of demonetisation was implemented across the country. The people are particularly looking forward to finding out how the government plans to revive the economy from the demonetisation-induced shock it has received.