I request our FM to withdraw perquisite tax on house-building loans. It is not justified.

- By Swarup Kumar Banerjee (swarup.banerjee@licindia.com)

Please let us know if there is any reduction in excise duty on paper and paperboard.

- By Sanjeev (surbhipapers@gmail.com)

When the average CTC of a junior corporate executive is Rs 5 lakh per annum, the 30 per cent income tax on Rs 5 lakh and above will hardly provide any substantial relief. In case the finance minister is still interested in imposing 30 per cent income tax on this segment then it should be offered rebate in rate of interest by all financial institutes, in case of housing loans.

- By Pramod Kumar Singh (pramodazmi@gmail.com)

An excellent budget by the Left-supported Central government.

- By S Vijayasaradhi (svijayasaradhi@bsnl.co.in)

It is a balanced budget.

- By Navin Dubey (navindubeyjmt@gmail.com)

It is the best effort under the given constraints and circumstances. However, increase in short-term capital gains tax and commodity transaction tax will act as dampers to the accelerated efforts for fresh investments, and they need a fresh look. The direct tax structure has been maintained well. In summary, it is the best practical budget.

- By Dr. D.M. Harver (dmharver@gmail.com)

The government should use the carrot and stick policy for increased efficiency. Dead wood must be removed from government jobs. Public monitoring committees should be constituted to function as watchdogs.

- B.Y. Rameshw (rameshw@rediffmail.com)

The 6th Pay Commission of Central Government Employees should be implemented.

- By Vishwanath (talk2vishwanath@yahoo.co.in)

There is good news for the middle class as the Income Tax exemption limit has been raised to Rs 1,50,000.

- By Chandrasekaran (chandrukp@yahoo.com)

If we analyse this budget, we'll notice there are tax waivers and monetary exemptions. It shows Chidambaram has taken measures to boost the GDP growth with support from the backbone of our economy i.e. agriculture and service sector.

As a whole the budget will have positive impact on the performance of the UPA in next general election. And the finance minister should be given credit for this for making lower and middle class happy who share a large per cent of the vote bank.

But let's hope for the better for Indian economy in coming financial year.

- By Indrapal Parmar (indrapal.parmar@gmail.com)

Budgets like these are good for Tatas, Birlas and Ambanis but a middle class has no benefits at all. A middle-class person keeps paying higher taxes year by year and still has to face corruption, inflation and collectively the country is label of third-world nation. Why can't the corporates be taxed in the same manner as the middle class population?

- By Sumit Gupta (sumitkrgupta@sify.com)

This is smart budget with an eye on the forthcoming general election, India's growth, enhancing healthcare, social sector and education.

- By Saravanan (thasar.st@gmail.com)

This is a good budget.

- By Sanjay Bhagat (llsnjy@yahoo.co.in)

Despite best efforts, the finance minister has been miserly towards the senior citizens.

- By RK Gaur (gaurandassociates@rediffmail.com)

The budget is apparently beneficial for salaried employees. Would you please draw a chart and make comparison with 2007-08 and 2008-09 and find out if my earnings are Rs 5 lakh or more.

- By Chandan Choudhury (c_chowdhury24@rediffmail.com)

Our government should concentrate on agriculture.

- By Durai (k_s_arumaithurai@yahoo.co.in)