Union Budget 2025: 5 Key Concerns of the Common Man That Need Nirmala Sitharaman’s Attention

Union Budget 2025: Finance Minister Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for 2025 on February 1, at a time when GDP growth has slowed to its lowest point in several quarters.

As finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present her eighth consecutive Union budget, common folks seared by high prices of food items, particularly vegetables, are looking for some relief.

Because wages and salaries did not keep up with the rising rate of inflation, households with low incomes suffered the most.

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Furthermore, the number of jobs available to job seekers is insufficient. Corporate profits suffered as a result of people being obliged to cut back on or delay consumption in recent months.

The top five concerns of common folks that the budget needs to address.

Inflation

Households across the country shelled out more for kitchen essentials as prices of vegetables, cooking oil and milk rose. Vegetable prices were affected by extreme weather conditions, while cooking oil prices climbed after the government increased duties, and milk prices rose due to the increased cost of inputs.

Price increases for packaged foods like biscuits and toiletries, the majority of which use palm oil as a manufacturing component, have had an impact on household finances in recent months. Due to rising expenses, businesses have already threatened to raise prices further. The MRP of edible oils and the input costs for FMCG companies can both be decreased by lowering import duties.

Slow rise in wages

One of the reasons for the current slowdown in consumption was thought to be the gradual increase in the pay and benefits of employees and junior- to mid-level executives.

In its second-quarter results call presentation, Britannia noted that while the wages of paid workers increased 6.5% over the previous 12 months, those of non-salaried workers, who make up over half of the workforce in metropolitan areas, increased only 3.4%.

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Economic slowdown

According to the National Statistics Office, India's economy would expand 6.4% in 2024–2025, which is the slowest growth rate since the academic contraction.

One of the reasons for the slower economic growth is thought to be the government's modest capital investment (or spending) on infrastructure projects during the first half of the fiscal year.

Slow growth of jobs

Besides increased government spending on infrastructure creation, private sector investment in labour-intensive activities can improve the situation. More central incentives and other measures to support the medium, micro and small enterprises are also needed.

Incidence of taxes

Lowering the burden of income tax for individuals in the lower- and middle-income brackets has been an outstanding demand, as it will leave more money in their pockets. The NDA government has made only incremental changes so far.

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