Bhubaneswar: Praising the tax relief proposed in the Union Budget for the middle class, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday described it as a forward-thinking measure that would benefit citizens and boost the economy.
“A heartfelt thank you to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon’ble Finance Minister @nsitharaman ji for this transformative initiative of zero income tax till Rs 12 Lakh under the new tax regime.This visionary step empowers citizens, strengthens the economy, and paves the way for brighter financial opportunities for all,” Majhi posted on X.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman declared that annual earnings up to Rs 12 lakh would be free from income tax under the revised tax structure. For salaried taxpayers, after considering the standard deduction, this income limit would reach Rs 12.75 lakh.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the Union Budget represents Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for ‘Viksit Bharat’, demonstrating dedication to enhancing India’s human resources, improving educational accessibility, and reinforcing research and innovation practices. “Education, skilling, research and innovation are the cornerstone of harnessing the full potential of India’s Yuva Shakti, championing development, realising aspirations and actualising the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047,” Pradhan stated.
The Union education minister posted on X, “Grateful to PM @narendramodi ji and FM @nsitharaman for continuing with the Modi govt tradition of bigger and bolder investments in education, skilling, research and innovation and for the key announcements that will strengthen our education, skill development, innovation and entrepreneurship architecture. #ViksitBharatBudget2025 is another big leap towards empowering India’s population with more opportunities of world-class education, building capacities of our human capital, boosting the research ecosystem, fostering scientific temper right at the grassroots and building a future-ready India.”
Former CM Naveen Patnaik criticised the Budget. “Today, the youth of the country are in the dire need of jobs and common people are bearing the brunt of unchecked #PriceRise of essential commodities. It is unfortunate that two of the most pressing challenges the country is facing, have not been addressed in the #Budget2025,” the BJD president said.
BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra claimed Odisha’s interests have been overlooked in the Budget. “There is nothing special in the Budget in the context of Odisha. It’s the double-engine govt’s double betrayal of the people of Odisha. While several states have received special attention in the Budget, major issues of our state, including the demands for special category status and infrastructure development, have not been addressed,” Patra said.
Congress also criticised the Budget. “Not a single major announcement was made for our state. Over the last 10 years, this BJP govt at the Centre collected Rs 54.18 lakh crore in income tax from the middle class. Now, they claim to offer relief by exempting income up to Rs 12 lakh — an annual saving of just Rs 80,000, or a mere Rs 6,666 per month. Is this supposed to be a gift for the people struggling with inflation and unemployment,” asked senior Congress leader and former minister Niranjan Patnaik.