Understanding the Budget: An online workshop
The release of the Union Budget annually in the month of February is a significant event in the Indian news calendar. The Budget is a statement of revenues and expenditures. As such it is a roadmap of the union government’s priorities. It is natural that the release of the Budget is much anticipated and is followed by a great of deal of discussion, analysis and argument in academia as well as in print, visual and social media. A wider understanding of the Budget is necessary as it empowers citizens, journalists, researchers, and professionals to engage critically with policy decisions, and advocate for equitable resource allocation. Yet, many are hesitant to read the Budget due to unfamiliarity with the structure of and concepts in various documents associated with the Budget. Even for those with some familiarity with the Budget, there are aspects for which more clarity might be necessary, particularly in reading the Budget against the backdrop of macroeconomic policy.
This three-day lecture series on the Budget is meant to demystify the structural aspects of the Budget as well provide guidance in reading of the Budget from a macro-economic perspective.
This course is meant for:
• Young journalists seeking to improve their reporting on economic policies.
• Professionals interested in understanding fiscal implications for their industries.
• University students and researchers focusing on economics, public policy, or governance.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will:
1. Understand the structure and components of the Budget.
2. Analyze key fiscal concepts such as revenues, expenditures, deficits, and public debt.
3. Interpret the socio-economic priorities reflected in budgetary allocations.
4. Critically evaluate the implications of budget policies on various sectors.
Duration of the Course:
The course will be delivered over three days, with daily sessions lasting 90 minutes. Each session will include a 60-minute lecture or debate followed by a 30-minute interactive discussion. The lectures will be thorough Zoom conference. Details of the conference will be conveyed to the registered participants over email.
Session Details:
Day 1: (January 17, 2025- 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM) Reporting on the Budget: What to look for, and where?
• Instructor: Shankar Raghuraman (Deputy Executive Editor, The Times of India). Over 30 years of experience in covering and analysing budgets.
• Objectives:
◦ Overview of key Budget documents (e.g., Budget speech, expenditure statement, finance bill).
◦ Identifying critical sections and information within these documents.
◦ Practical tips on navigating the Budget documents
Day 2: (January 18, 2025 – 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM) Government Revenues & their Macroeconomic Implications
• Instructor: Surajit Mazumdar (Professor at Centre for Economic Studies and Planning (CESP), Jawaharlal Nehru University)
• Objectives:
◦ Understanding revenue sources of the government
◦ Understanding the fiscal policy as reflected in Budget document and its macro-economic implications
Day 3: (January 19, 2025- 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM) Looking at the Data on Government Expenditures – Sectors, Schemes and Key areas
• Instructor: Surajit Mazumdar (Professor at Centre for Economic Studies and Planning (CESP), Jawaharlal Nehru University)
• Objectives:
◦ Analysis of allocation to different sectors and Schemes
◦ Key areas of government expenditures (Agriculture, women, etc.)
Course Fees:
• Registration : Rs 1500/- per person.
Certification: Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion, validating their enhanced understanding of the Budget.
Budget App: Participants will get complimentary access to an app of analysing Union Budgets.
Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/yedzhuzr
Contact details: [email protected]
