Finance minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman undoubtedly scripted history after presenting her ninth consecutive Budget on February 1. However, the FM has also faced significant trolling on social media, especially after she was asked questions regarding relief measures to assist the middle class.
After the 2026-27 Union Budget announcement, a viral video of Finance minister shows her going 'aww' and grinning on being asked, "What does this Budget provide for the middle class?" However, going completely off the topic, the FM starts talking about education and infrastructure as examples of indirect support, which has sparked considerable public debate.
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Initially, she can be seen stammering, scratching her ear and out of words to frame a befitting reply. Then she comes up with an answer that bears no connection to the question in demand.
She provides detailed information about the government's plan for the establishment of five higher education university hubs, the government's intent to provide partnerships with foreign universities and efforts to develop world-class universities in India so students don't have to go overseas for an education. Furthermore, she emphasised that there is sufficient flexibility in higher education and that Central government funding will continue to support primary and secondary education.
But the real question still remains unanswered. Does the Budget offer anything for the middle class people?
Here's what people think:
Utkarsh Sharma, senior consultant at Deloitte, Delhi says, "This Budget is asking the middle class to be patient, there are no real tax cuts, except for few sects such as people sending money abroad and accidental claims. While last few year's Budgets seemed to be focused on relief, this year's is being sold as growth based."
"I feel this year's Budget doesn't offer any direct relief to the middle class in terms of tax cuts higher deductions, which many were expecting. However, there are some indirect benefits like through higher spending on infrastructure, jobs, healthcare and long term growth, which may help overtime but don't provide immediate, tangible relief to the middle class in day to day finances," says Harsh Darshan Sharma who works as a lead contract at Essel Mining Industries Limited in Kolkata.
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Ajay Nair, who works at a reputed bank in Kolkata says that the Budget this year "focused only on simplification rather than introducing major new tax cuts for the middle class". He also sees some positives in the Budget and goes on to list them, including the relief on TCS on overseas travel which has been slashed to a uniform rate of 2 per cent, the customs duty on cancer drugs and major critical illness medicines that has been waived off or reduced resulting in lower treatment cost.
He also lauded that the "duty on goods imported for personal use (like electronics or small gadgets) has been halved to 10 per cent".
Social media can't keep calm
The social media users went gaga over the FM's reply and came up with epic replies. One user wrote, "Me writing answers in exam" while another said, "That's useful information. For a different question."
Another user mocked the FM and wrote, "Out of syllabus question aagya."
"Question: on middle class Answer: higher education suggestions," said one.
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Others expressed dissatisfaction and said, "Nothing is there for middle class people and for general category people."
Not a first for the FM
Sometimes the lack of connection between the government's focus on macro-economic stability and middle-class income tax benefit expectations become reasons for trolling events. However, this isn't the first time that the FM has become a trolling target. She was trolled in 2019 for saying that millennials didn't use traditional taxis but preferred Ola and Uber which was the reason for the slowdown of the auto industry.
That same year, she was also trolled for her remark amid soaring onion prices.
