59% Indians cite rising inflation as their main concern

• A majority (67%) of Indians believed the 2024 finances met their expectations, nevertheless the share of individuals holding this constructive view has steadily decreased over the previous two years, from 73% in 2022 to 70% in 2023 indicating a gradual decline in public alignment with the finances over time.

• Amid the current drop in India’s GDP numbers at 6.4% (down from 8.2% the earlier 12 months), 53% Indians consider that India’s economic system will nonetheless develop sooner than the earlier years, however this quantity has additionally declined from 57% for 2024.

• Indians count on the federal government to supply earnings tax reduction for the salaried class, notably concentrating on middle-income earners within the upcoming union finances

• Growing the fundamental earnings tax exemption restrict from the present Rs 3 Lacs/ USD 3.6K is the most typical expectation. 

• Growing commonplace deduction from Rs 75K/ USD 892 to Rs 1 Lac/ USD 1.2K.

• Most additionally need both a rise within the threshold restrict of the very best tax slab from present Rs 15 Lacs/ USD 17.8K or a lower within the highest tax fee of 30% relevant on earnings over Rs 15 Lac/ USD 17.8K.

• With the specter of the HMPV virus looming and circumstances of life-threatening way of life ailments turning into extra widespread, there’s an expectation that the federal government will enhance the restrict for varied deductions underneath Part 80 for medical insurance coverage premium.

• 59% Indians cite rising inflation as their main concern. This quantity can be up from 57% within the earlier 12 months.

• Practically 50% Indians are more and more fearful in regards to the misuse of AI, notably its potential to gasoline cybercrime and threaten monetary safety.

• World issues over recession and multi-nation conflicts have eased barely, with 44% and 43% of shoppers expressing fear, down from 48% and 45% in 2024, respectively.

• In-line with the current market fluctuations, 62% Indians count on the BSE Sensex to remain between the 81000-90000 vary in 2025.

• As India’s start-up and new-age enterprise sector matures, 70% Indians count on the sector’s monetary efficiency to enhance, pointing to a time of consolidation and stabilisation after a interval of fast growth.

• India’s transfer in the direction of a cashless economic system appears to be on a quick monitor, with digital funds (UPI & e-wallets) turning into the norm for 60% of shoppers for on a regular basis transactions. That is up by 7% over the earlier 12 months.

• Issues round local weather change and its affect on the longer term is main Indian shoppers to develop into progressively open in the direction of electrical mobility. 

• Private monetary instability, office stress, social media pressures, and cyberbullying are among the many main contributors to psychological stress in India.

• Following Donald Trump’s victory within the U.S. elections, 53% of Indians consider it is going to positively affect India’s exports of services, whereas 20% undertake a wait-and-watch method.

Commenting on this 12 months’s survey, Deepender Rana, govt managing director- South Asia, Insights Division, Kantar, mentioned, “India’s 2025 Union Finances comes at a time of shifting client sentiment and evolving priorities. Whereas 67% Indians felt the final 12 months’s finances aligned with their wants, this sentiment has regularly declined over the past three years, coinciding with a slowing GDP. With inflation and monetary safety issues on the rise, residents are on the lookout for tax reduction, enhanced medical insurance coverage advantages and measures to handle the challenges posed by AI misuse. The upcoming finances represents a possibility to handle these challenges and help India’s financial momentum.”