No doubt that this Budget has showered enough tax benefits on individuals by increasing the minimum tax exemption limit and extending the tax slabs to the higher income range for women, senior citizens and other assesses. Whereas the corporate assesses have got nothing in real term since there was no reduction in the corporate tax percentage, MAT, surcharge, cess or dividend distribution tax. The Finance Minister has irked the stock market players by hiking the short-term capital gain tax on securities from 10 to 15 per cent which does not make any sense when the capital market is showing the negative advancement in these days. Moreover, a new tax on commodities transaction tax was introduced on commodities transactions. All these amendments will make the investments in Indian stock market less attractive and the ultimate impact is that the economy will not be dynamic consistently.

Pramod Shrikanth D., Bangalore.