Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, organised a panel discussion on the Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25 at Fr Michael Van den Bogaert SJ Auditorium. The event was organized by the Marketing Management Programme and MarkBuzzz Club of XISS.

Dr Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ, Director, XISS in his welcome address shared his happiness and pride on organizing Union Budget Discussion at XISS, which is now an annual feature of the Institute. While setting the tone of the discussion he emphasized on the Union Minister of Finance’s slogan for developed India – Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwa and Sabka Prayas. He shared a brief reflection of Budget 2024 highlighting an insight on the Capital Expenditure Outlay. Further he added, that as far as growth projection is concerned the budget assumes 7.3 % of growth in India’s real GDP. He emphasised that broader tax reforms are necessary for economic growth. However, he also emphasised that some critics point that more targeted policies to address specific challenges faced by different regions and demographics.

He also talked about allocation regarding social justice and tribal affairs, tribal sub plan as it is a most crucial aspect of tribal development, education of the tribals. He concluded saying that the budget 2024 should focus more on employability and skill training.

The panel discussion began with the students’ teams namely, Abhinav Vijay and Anubhav Yash from Financial Management Programme presenting the Budget Insight on Infrastructure. Shreya Samui and Simran Chhabra of Human Resource Management Programme presented insights on Social Welfare. Meanwhile, Satyam Kumar and Anjali Gupta of Marketing Management Programme discussed on Infrastructure and Investment and, the last student team of Sadiya and Dhanesh Gope of Rural Management Programme discussed on Education and Health Care.  

Further, in faculty panel discussion Dr Amar Tigga, Dean Academics focused on Capital Investment and said that the Budget 2024 missed on upcoming job opportunities while one most attractive thing was that it has allocated a lot of funds for innovation and technology. Dr Ramakant Aggarwal, Professor, Human Resource Management gave insights on whether budget is growth oriented, employment oriented or inflation oriented. Dr Arup Mukherjee, Professor, Financial Management Programme discussed Goods and Service Tax (GST) and he said that Viksit Bharat is only possible when people are viksit (developed). At the end of the faculty panel Dr Niranjan Sahu, Professor, Rural Management appreciated the budget for Electric Vehicles (EV) Initiatives, Solar and Wind Power, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Quantum Computing.

The session concluded with an open house quiz and Q&A Session. Shreya Samui and Simran Chhabra of HRM won the students panel discussion. They were awarded with certificates and cash prize. Concluding the event, Assistant Director, Dr Pradeep Kerketta SJ said that availability of budget is good, but its accessibility is more important because it is in favor of social justice of people. Stability is required in both; monetary and fiscal policy and government should focus on both. It was a brainstorming session to learn and he emphasized students on continue learning. 

Towards the conclusion of the discussion, memento to guest speaker and certificates to students’ speakers and student moderator was given. The entire discussion was well moderated by Dr Bhabhani Prasad Mahapatra, Head of Programme, Marketing Management.