As India awaits the Union Budget 2025, the theme “MAKE OR BREAK” underscores the pivotal nature of this financial blueprint. The Budget is more than just numbers—it’s a delicate balancing act between economic expansion and fiscal responsibility. For industries, it could be a catalyst for growth with strategic incentives or a setback if weighed down by taxation. Citizens hope for relief amid rising costs, while businesses seek policy clarity for long-term investments. Every allocation and reform introduced will play a crucial role in determining whether this Budget ignites new opportunities for progress or presents challenges that slow momentum.
Medianews4u.com caught up with Anuj Singhal, Managing Editor, CNBC-AWAAZ to know more about the channel’s special content offerings for this Union Budget.
1) Given the high stakes of this year’s budget, how is CNBC-AWAAZ preparing to cover the budget under the theme “Make or Break,”? What key aspects will be your focus during the coverage?
Yes indeed, the stakes are high and that’s why we’re calling it ‘Make or Break’. CNBC-AWAAZ is primarily a stock market channel, but we do cater to consumers as well. We have a large audience that wants to know about personal consumption and a lot of aspects of personal finance. So, markets and anything related to consumption is something that we will be essentially focused on.
2) Which sectors do you believe are most likely to be impacted by this year’s budget, and how are you planning to provide insightful analysis on them during your channel’s coverage?
The sectors that will be most impacted are the ones directly related to the economy and job creation. Whether its railways, real estate or infrastructure, which according to me is the most important sector. The other important one is Rural consumption because that’s a sector where we have seen a lot of pain, and we are expecting the government to announce a slew of measures to revive consumption in that particular area. And these would be the major areas to focus on.
3) With citizens looking for relief amid rising costs, what specific measures are you expecting in this budget that could directly address inflation and cost-of-living concerns? How will CNBC-AWAAZ highlight these changes?
That’s true. We are expecting the government to provide some relief in the income tax measures. There is one segment of the population that has really supported this government politically and in terms of being honest with their taxes, which is the middle class. Over the last few years, they have got the rough end of the stick, so my sense is that this time the government would take cognizance of that. There is a need to put more money in the hands of consumers. At the end of the day, if you cut direct taxes, give more money to people because that’s eventually going to come back to you, right? Because they’re going to consume more and you’re going to collect more taxes as indirect taxes. I think the government is smart and it recognises that and that’s my sense that there will be something around direct taxes.
4) How do you anticipate the budget affecting businesses, especially with regards to tax reforms and incentives for long-term investments? What will be your channel’s approach in breaking down these aspects for your audience?
I think the business community wants an assurance from the government that there is going to be continuity and there won’t be any ad-hocism. Now that we are shifting to a GST regime, there won’t be too many changes. That said, just provide them a stable tax regime and there will be investments. At the end of the day, investments also depend on how the economy is doing. If the economy is slowing down, the investments automatically slow down. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle but the business community would be happy with any kind of continuity.
5) This budget is said to be a balancing act. How do you plan to cover the fine line between driving economic growth and managing fiscal constraints in your broadcast?
The good part is that’s the tough job for the Finance minister. We have to report it. But you’re right, I think this is going to be a tough act. My personal sense is that we give too much importance to fiscal deficit and fiscal prudence. I think there’s no harm if the government comes out and says, we are going to miss our fiscal deficit target. If that upsets the rating agencies, so be it. In any case, foreign investors have been selling in India.
The government could say that we want to give more money to the people, we want people to go out and revive the economy. I think personally that would be the best-case scenario, though I am expecting that the government would continue to stick to the path of fiscal prudence. It is a tightrope, and I am sure the Finance Minister and her team would do a good job at it.
6) Interactive Content: Are there any innovative formats or interactive segments that CNBC-AWAAZ will use to engage viewers and keep them informed on the implications of the budget, especially in real-time?
Yes, absolutely. We will be streaming live on YouTube with one of our prominent anchors presenting live analysis of the Budget exclusively on Digital. The anchor will take questions from our viewers, and we will ask those questions to our experts. This is something that we do every year. We also have a big digital-exclusive panel which will be led by one of our senior anchors. Stay tuned.
7) Budget announcements can sometimes be overwhelming for the average viewer. How does CNBC-AWAAZ simplify complex economic policies for your audience, ensuring they remain engaged and informed?
Absolutely. At CNBC-AWAAZ, we follow a no-jargon policy. I tell my team that you should talk to me as if you’re not talking to me, but to my mother—she’s watching and wants to understand what’s happening. If she understands it, we know we’ve done a good job. We always break down jargons. We never use complex terms. We always engage our audience and simplify things. That’s something we consistently do, and on Budget, we put in extra effort to simplify each and everything and break it down into what it means for the average person.
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CNBC-AWAAZ’s budget special programming for 2025, titled Make or Break, is co-presented by SBI, co-powered by CoinDCX* and Royal Ranthambore Premium Glassware, with UTL SOLAR as Associate Partner.
*Disclaimer: Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions
