Nirmala Sitharaman’s Bold Tax Bet, Piyush Goyal’s Take on Currency Depreciation, and Nitin Gadkari’s ‘Jackpot’
The India Today – Business Today Budget Round Table 2025 set the stage for high-level discussions on India’s economic trajectory, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirming the country’s strong fundamentals while dismissing fears of a structural slowdown. “In every Budget, there is a clear sense that we respect taxpayers,” she emphasized, highlighting income tax rebates, including increased relief under the new tax regime.
Sitharaman set an optimistic tone at the Round Table, reinforcing that India’s economy remains resilient. She ruled out any structural slowdown and assured that the government’s focus remains on tax reforms and economic stability. The minister expressed hope that higher disposable income under the new tax regime would boost consumption and savings, ultimately benefiting sectors like FMCG and banking.
The event saw Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal firmly reject the idea of a BRICS currency, stating, “We don’t support any BRICS currency… It is impossible to think of a BRICS currency.”
Goyal also addressed concerns over rupee depreciation, emphasizing the need for a stronger currency in the long run. “Depreciation is a bad thing. We believe that in the long run, we must focus on a stronger currency because we are still an import-dependent country,” he added.
In another insightful session, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari outlined India’s infrastructure vision, projecting ₹5 lakh crore from highway monetization while acknowledging land acquisition and environmental clearances as key challenges. He noted that toll income is expected to reach ₹1.4 lakh crore in two years, and if further monetized, it could yield ₹15 lakh crore. Despite a 2.4% rise in budgetary allocation for highways, he pointed out that execution bottlenecks remain.
Amid global uncertainties, Finance and Revenue Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey flagged concerns over trade disruptions and rising protectionist policies, emphasizing that India remains committed to open markets. Meanwhile, Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India’s foundational AI model will be ready by the end of the year, adding that 10,000 GPUs are already available for research.
On the investment front, market veteran Vijay Kedia projected continued market consolidation, advising investors to focus on government-driven themes like tourism. Value Research CEO Dhirendra Kumar suggested a gradual investment strategy, while Mosaic Asset Management’s Maneesh Dangi remained bullish on IT and services.
The event featured 10 power-packed sessions with insights from over 15 industry-leading speakers, delivering impactful discussions and valuable takeaways. With NSE joining as an exchange partner, the event saw a remarkable gathering of more than 200 top corporate executives, industry stalwarts, and experts, fostering meaningful conversations.
As India navigates a fast-changing global economic landscape, the discussions at the India Today-Business Today Budget Round Table 2025 underscored the government’s commitment to taxpayer trust, infrastructure development, and financial stability, even as challenges like trade tensions, currency fluctuations, and policy bottlenecks persist.