The focus of the Union Budget is likely to be on driving inclusive growth, fostering agro productivity, infrastructure development and exports. However, Anand Rathi Securities does not expect either a broad-based tax hike or a major cut in expenditure across-the-board in the FY11 budget.

Yet, non-recurrence of one-off expenditures of FY10, strong non-tax revenue growth, partial rollback of tax rate cuts in the last two years and change in the composition of GDP is likely to narrow the FY11 fiscal deficit. Strong fund mobilization through the small saving scheme could reduce the reliance on market borrowing to fund the fiscal
deficit.

We do not expect either a broadbased tax hike or a major across-the-board cut in expenditure in the FY11 budget. Yet, we forecast that the FY11 fiscal deficit could narrow by 1.6 percentage points to 5.9% given strong non-tax revenue growth, partial rollback of tax rate cuts, the lack of one-off expenditures as in FY10 and the change in GDP growth mix, said the brokerage firm.

According to the brokerage, the rollback of excise duty concessions is likely to be modest and selective, with focus on sectors that have recorded strong demand growth in FY10 automobiles, consumer durables and cement. Customs tariff roll backs, however, are likely to be more broad-based. The service tax rate is likely to revert to 12%, while direct tax rates could be broadly unaltered.

Revenue from 3G spectrum auction and the likely surge in the RBIs profit could play important roles in containing the fiscal deficit. The strong fund mobilization through the small-savings scheme could reduce the governments reliance on market borrowing to fund the fiscal deficit.

Anand Rathi Securities believes that sectors that are likely to benefit include agro products, financials, capital goods, construction, IT services and utilities. Rising tax rates, however, are likely to be negative for the automobile and metal sectors.