School of Commerce, Xavier University, Successfully Organized a Discussion on Union Budget 2021-2022

Bureau,Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar:School of Commerce, Xavier University, Bhubaneswar successfully organized a discussion on Union Budget 2021-2022 on 13th February 2021. The event started with a welcome note given by Prof. P. K. Mohanty, Dean, School of Commerce, Xavier University, Bhubaneswar, where he introduced the union budget, which he considered to be a vision document, especially after the blow of pandemic in the country. He exclaimed that there was no change in the tax regime and how the stock market grew by 5% since the Budget’s launch. He also mentioned the country’s growth drivers for the given period, said in the Budget 2021-2022.

The discussion was carried forward by an eminent speaker Mr. Bharat Kumar Sahu, Additional Company Secretary, NALCO, where he discussed the growth difference between the US and Japan in recent times, the reason why the US is a larger economy as compared to Japan with the help of an example. He focused on infrastructure and that how this Budget can also be called “Infrastructure Budget.” He also mentioned Atmanirbhar Bharat and how it could impact the Indian economy, especially after the Budget. He talked about good governance, substantial infrastructure expenditure, health expenditure, education for all, and the government’s disinvestment as planned in the Budget 2021-2022.

The next speaker Mr. J B Das, Practicing Company Secretary, gave a different perspective about the Union Budget. He mentioned how only 6% of the current population pays tax and how there were no tax system changes that could have increased citizens’ purchasing power. He also discussed the tribunals and the privatization of two Public Sector Banks and one General Insurance, which he considered a drastic move by the government.

Mr. Nageswar Patnaik, an Eminent Journalist, enlightened the audience by explaining the importance of the Agriculture Sector and how it could play a pivotal role in India’s economic development. He talked about government assets’ monetization, including the NHI and Oil and Gas Pipeline and other government PSUs, which means the government will give asset building and asset maintenance to the private sector. Emphasizing how COVID-19 was an eye-opener for the government pushed them to invest more in the health sector, he also focused on the country’s federal structure and how it was necessary for India’s growth.

Then there was a question-answer session where the students asked thought-provoking questions, including questions on Monetization of Assets and the Tourism sector. The event was concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr.Prof.Vijaya Batth.