Following Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's presentation of the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 on Sunday, social media platform X witnessed a surge of discussions and analyses from various users. Among the notable voices was industrialist Harsh Goenka, who offered a unique and humorous perspective on the budget, cleverly weaving in references to popular Bollywood films.
Goenka's Cinematic Take on the Budget
In his post on X, Goenka described the budget as "thoughtful" and positioned it as a strategic response to the recent imposition of 50 percent duties on Indian imports by the US President. He creatively linked key budget announcements to blockbuster movies, adding an entertaining twist to the economic discourse.
Bollywood References in Budget Analysis
Goenka's analysis included references to:
- Dhurandhar: The Ranveer Singh-starrer that crossed ₹1,000 crore domestically, used metaphorically to describe the budget's aggressive push on data centers, manufacturing, and nuclear power.
- Border: The iconic war drama, referenced in context of the significant increase in defense outlay to support armed forces.
- Avatar: Symbolizing the budget's focus on upskilling youth and inclusive development initiatives.
His complete post read: "A thoughtful Budget that 'trumps' the temptation to please stock markets. Defence outlay up massively to help our heroes at the 'Border'. Going 'Dhurandhar' on data centres, manufacturing and nuclear power—crafting India's future backed by upskilling the youth 'Avatars', inclusive development and easing tax procedures."
Viral Response and Social Media Reactions
The post quickly gained traction, amassing approximately 5,000 views and numerous likes within a short period. The comments section became a hub for diverse opinions about both the budget and Goenka's creative interpretation.
Notable User Comments
- One user expressed market concerns: "The stock market is falling like a pack of cards, and the real game will start tomorrow when FIIs return, as Sunday is a holiday for them. Expect more pain and a further fall in our market."
- Another appreciated the approach: "Good filmi analysis."
- A third user praised the wit: "Witty at its best..."
Key Highlights of Union Budget 2026-27
Presented under the vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', the budget maintained existing income tax rates while providing substantial boosts to multiple sectors including manufacturing, tourism, health, sports, and defense.
Significant Policy Decisions and Price Reductions
The Finance Minister's announcements have led to price cuts across various product categories through duty reductions and exemptions:
- Healthcare Benefits: Basic customs duty removed on 17 vital cancer drugs and medicines to make treatment more affordable for patients. Additionally, drugs, medicines, and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) for seven rare diseases have seen duty reductions.
- Industrial and Energy Incentives: Customs duty waived on imports required for nuclear power projects until 2035. Lithium-ion cells for batteries, solar glass, critical minerals, and aircraft manufacturing components also receive duty benefits.
- Consumer Goods: Price reductions on personal-use imported goods, leather items (particularly footwear), textile garments, seafood products, microwave ovens, and biogas-blended CNG.
- Other Sectors: Overseas tour packages and foreign education costs have also been made more affordable through budgetary measures.
The budget's comprehensive approach, combining strategic economic responses with social welfare initiatives, has generated widespread discussion across digital platforms, with Goenka's film-themed analysis adding a unique dimension to the public conversation about India's fiscal direction.
