Raise income tax exempt limit to ₹ 10 lakh, RSS unions urge FM ahead of Union Budget 2025

Implementation of an agriculture-specific package, extending MGNREGA work days to 200, quickening GST refunds, and establishing a thorough manufacturing strategy to address Chinese imports were some other demands raised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated organizations in their discussion with Nirmala Sitharaman.

EPN Desk 07 January 2025 14:12

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present this year’s Union Budget on Feb 1, 2025. Like every year, the middle class is looking at the Narendra Modi government to provide income tax relief.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated organizations have presented various proposals during pre-budget discussions with FM Sitharaman, including raising tax-free/tax exempt income threshold to ₹ 10 lakh, implementing an agriculture-specific package, extending MGNREGA work days to 200, quickening GST refunds, and establishing a thorough manufacturing strategy to address Chinese imports.

Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh's (BMS) representatives, led by Pawan Kumar, presented their recommendations to Sitharaman on Jan 6.

BMS advocated for extending MGNREGA to ensure 200 workdays per family annually, sources were quoted as saying. They additionally requested a dedicated package for sectors requiring substantial labor, including agriculture, plantation, beedi, and fisheries.

The organization sought implementation of the 8th Pay Commission, tax exemption up to ₹ 10 lakh, and preferred OPS over NPS and UPS.

Additional proposals included doubling the gratuity calculation period to 30 days per year from 15 days and removing tax obligations for pensioners.

Laghu Udyog Bharati, an organization representing small and medium enterprises, requested faster GST refund processing, the introduction of an amnesty program for minor GST filing errors, and GST rate adjustments.

The agricultural group Bhartiya Kisan Sangh sought GST exemption on farming inputs and periodic increases in PM Kisan Nidhi. BKS additionally requested direct fertilizer subsidy transfers to farmers' accounts, according to reports.

The RSS's economic division, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, represented by Ashwini Mahajan, highlighted concerns about the trade imbalance with China and advocated for comprehensive manufacturing policies, including tariffs and trade measures to support domestic production.