Union Budget 2021 Verdict: Astro Analysis by Hirav Shah

FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented her first paperless 2021-22 Union Budget. The budget came amidst a pandemic, making it the most significant Budget for the Finance Minister. As expected, a major thrust is being provided to healthcare and infrastructure, since the FM announced a slew of measures on healthcare and infrastructure, to give an impetus to the Covid-hit economy.

However, there is no change in Income Tax slabs this year. Also, amidst hue and cry, the Budget stressed the Government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare and wellbeing; the MSP system is strengthened to assure price at least 1.5 times of production cost, with a sharp increase in procurement of foodgrains and payment to farmers.

Analysis by Hirav Shah:

All the planets guide all the sectors. If there is coordination between the planetary influence of an individual and the related sector of trade, the chances of success in the endeavor and earning a handsome profit is high. On the contrary, if the planetary influence on an individual and sectors are not in harmony with each other, the individual is bound to incur losses.

Meanwhile, 2021 adds to 2+0+2+1=5 which is ruled by Mercury, the planet of Communication, Travel, Knowledge, etc..Mercury indicates sectors connected with trade, banking, and commerce.

Mercury is a significator of one’s thought, intellect, communication skills, and how we express ourselves, says Hirav Shah. Mercury is about quick thinking and rationalized thought process. Speaking, writing, online learning are all in Mercury’s domain

Here are the transits of various major planets in 2021:

Jupiter
1. Since the beginning of the year, Jupiter will be transiting through the Capricorn sign.
2. It will remain in the Aquarius sign from April 5 to September 14 and then on 20th November and will remain there for the rest of the year.
Saturn
3. Since the beginning of the year, Saturn will be transiting through the Capricorn sign and will remain there itself throughout the year.

Rahu / Ketu
Throughout the year, Rahu and Ketu will transit in Taurus and Scorpio respectively.

We are in the 74th year of Independence and will be entering into the 75th year on 15th August 2021. The 75th year adds to 12=1+2+3 and it represents Jupiter. Bharat adds to Number 6 and India adds to Number 3. As we know that 3, 6, 9 are the same family.

Salient Features:

1. This is indeed a unique and bold growth-oriented budget. All the right measures have been proposed to accelerate growth.
2. The absence of the Covid tax and IT surcharges is a big relief.
3. There are two clear positives like the 2 nationalized banks’ privatization and proposal of monetization of assets like land.
4. Raising FDI in insurance from 49% to 74% is welcome.
5. The move of rationalization of spends, minimal changes to the direct and indirect taxes and no additional taxes will be well received.
6. Higher spending will kickstart a virtuous cycle of growth. The expansion in spending will be funded by higher borrowings which has the potential to create upward pressure on inflation and interest rates a few months down the line. It is believed that the RBI will be in sync with the Govt and both will take necessary action to prevent this from happening.
7. Market response to the budget reflects growth optimism. In brief, the FM has presented a pragmatic, bold, and visionary budget in these unprecedented times.

In her speech, the finance minister mentioned that this year’s budget proposals rest on six pillars-

1. Health and Well-being.
2. Physical, financial capital, and infrastructure.
3. Inclusive development for aspirational India.
4. Reinvigorating human capital.
5. Innovation and R&D.
6. Minimum government and maximum governance.

Let’s look at the highlights/ impact of budget 2021 for each sector-

1. Astro Strategist Hirav Shah’s Astro-Opinion on Healthcare and Well being:

Moon rules healthcare, well-being, and related fields of the health spectrum.

So when the moon is placed in houses other than 4,8 and 12 for the particular chart, these sectors show some activity in favor. But the Moon transits every 2.5 days roughly. Moon influences FMCG but not to a very powerful extent. Also, Chandra rules housing and child care products, pregnancy medicines and related products, neonatal products, animal husbandry, animal care products, dairy farming, marble, swan, birds, bird food.

a. Spending on healthcare hiked by 137 percent to over Rs 2.23 lakh crore.

b. Today India has 2 vaccines available, 2 more vaccines are expected soon.

c. Government to spend Rs 64,180 crore on healthcare over six years.

d. Government sets aside Rs 35,000 crore for Covid-19 vaccine in FY22.

e.  A new scheme, titled PM Atma Nirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana, to be launched to develop primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare

f. Mission POSHAN 2.0 to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 aspirational districts

g. Operationalisation of 17 new public health units at points of entry

h. Modernising of existing health units at 32 airports, 15 seaports, and land ports

i. Jal Jeevan Mission Urban aimed at better water supply nationwide

j. Strengthening of Urban Swachh Bharat Mission

2. Astro Strategist Hirav Shah’s Astro-Opinion on Infrastructure:

Shani/ Saturn Is the taskmaster of the zodiac. He stays in one house for 2.5 years. He rules the fields which require hard labor, construction labor, automobile parts, roads, highways, granite and infrastructure, industry management, capital goods, etc…

When Saturn transits a favorable house, all these industries can expect slow and steady growth. It won’t be visible easily. There can be a good contract that happens at the beginning of the Saturn transit. The fruits of this would be seen at the end of 2 years. If Saturn is in a bad transit, then a contract can fall apart at the beginning of the transit. And it will continue to raise problems till the end of the transit. One other main sector Saturn rules are oil and petroleum. So all the related small industries and fluids and semi fluids come under his leadership.

a. Vehicle scrapping policy to phase out old and unfit vehicles – all vehicles to undergo a fitness test in automated fitness centers every 20 years (personal vehicles), every 15 years (commercial vehicles)

b. Highway and road works announced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Assam

c. National Asset Monetising Pipeline launched to monitor asset monetization process

d. National Rail Plan created to bring a future-ready Railway system by 2030

e. 100% electrification of Railways to be completed by 2023

f. Metro services announced in 27 cities, plus additional allocations for Kochi Metro, Chennai Metro Phase 2, Bengaluru Metro Phase 2A and B, Nashik and Nagpur Metros

g. National Hydrogen Mission to be launched to generate hydrogen from green power sources

h. Recycling capacity of ports to be doubled by 2024

i. Gas pipeline project to be set up in Jammu and Kashmir

j. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (LPG scheme) to be extended to cover 1 crore more beneficiaries

k. To spend Rs 1.41 lakh crore for Urban Clean India Mission.

l. Outlay of Rs 1.18 lakh crore for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways India to spend Rs 1.1 lakh crore for Railways in FY22.

3.Astro Strategist Hirav Shah’s Astro-Opinion on the Financial sector:

Mercury planet rules banking, financial sector & related fields. So when Budha / Mercury is in his own house or in the house of a friendly planet, there will be progress in the above fields.

a. Fiscal deficit stands at 9.5% of the GDP; estimated to be 6.8% in 2021-22

b. Proposal to allow States to raise borrowings up to 4% of GSDP this year

c. A Unified Securities Market Code to be created, consolidating provisions of the Sebi Act, Depositories Act, and two other laws

d. Proposal to increase FDI limit from 49% to 74%

e. An asset reconstruction company will be set up to take over stressed loans

f. Deposit insurance increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for bank depositors

g. Proposal to decriminalize Limited Liability Partnership Act of 2008

h.Two PSU bank and one general insurance firm to be disinvested this year

i. An IPO of LIC to debut this fiscal

j. Strategic sale of BPCL, IDBI Bank, Air India to be completed

k. Government to set up a Development Financial Institution.

l. NHAI and PGCIL to set up INVITs to attract global funds.

m. Proposal for New Rationalised Securities Markets Code.

n. Government allots Rs 20,000 crore for bank recapitalization.

4. Astro Strategist Hirav Shah’s Astro-Opinion on Minimum government, maximum governance:

Jupiter, Saturn, and Moon play major roles in governance, productivity, and prosperity. The combination and convergence of these planets in different houses give maximum governance and minimum government for many sectors and different geographical areas.

a. The FM proposes to modify the ‘Small Companies’ definition.
b.Increase the permissible limit for Foreign Direct Investment for insurance companies to 74% from 49%.

5. Astro Strategist Hirav Shah’s Astro-Opinion on Tax:

The planet Budha / Mercury and Moon rule tax and all other businesses related to the spectrum of tax.
So when the combination Budha and Moon are in their own houses or in the house of a friendly planet, there will be progress in the above fields.

a. Senior citizens above 75 years of age with only interest income will not have to file income tax returns.

b. Govt to set-up a faceless dispute resolution mechanism for small taxpayers.

c. Advance tax liability on the dividend to arise only after declaration.

d. FPI to get a deduction of tax on the dividend at a lower treaty rate.

e. No IT filing for people above 75 years who get pension and earn interest from deposits

f. Reopening window for IT assessment cases reduced from 6 to 3 years. However, in case of serious tax evasion cases (Rs. 50 lakh or more), it can go up to 10 years

g. Affordable housing projects to get a tax holiday for one year

h. Compliance burden of small trusts whose annual receipts do not exceed Rs. 5 crores to be eased

i.Duty of copper scrap reduced to 2.5%. Customs duty on gold and silver to be rationalized.Duty on naphtha reduced to 2.5%. Duty on solar inverters raised from 5% to 20%, and on solar lanterns from 5% to 15%. All nylon products charged with 5% customs duty. Tunnel boring machines to attract customs duty of 7%. Customs duty on cotton raised from 0 to 10%

6. Astro Strategist Hirav Shah’s Astro-Opinion on Innovation and R & D:

Mars and Jupiter Planet rule the intellect and research related sector. R & D, innovation, start-ups & related sectors.
So when Mars or Jupiter or a combination of both planets are in their own house or in the house of a friendly planet, there will be progress in the above fields.

a. Big boost for startups: Tax holiday extended by 1 year till 31 March 2022.

b. The tax-exempt on the revenue, as well as investments, which has been increased by one more year will be really beneficial for the startup growth in the country.

7. Astro Strategist Hirav Shah’s Astro-Opinion on Education:
Coming to the particular sectors, Guru/Jupiter rules education, teaching, training, spirituality related products, Examination, schools, colleges, and related businesses.

Being the most powerful beneficiary of the zodiac, first of all, rules luck. So when Guru /Jupiter is well placed, generally, there is a lot of goodwill, fairness in trade, and the government brings some good legislation.

a. 100 new Sainik Schools to be set up

b. 750 Eklavya schools to be set up in tribal areas

c. A Central University to come up in Ladakh

8.Hirav Shah’s Astro-Opinion on Agriculture:

Saturn/ Shani and Sun/Surya play a very important role in Agriculture Industry and Farming.
They rule agriculture & the fields which require hard labor, construction labor, black metals, artificial silver, irrigation industry, plantations, estate farming, small scale industries, small scale manufacturing, automobile parts, roads, highways, granite, and infrastructure industry management, tobacco, silk, legal deals.

When Saturn and or the Sun transits a favorable house, all these industries can expect slow and steady growth. If Saturn and or the Sun is in a bad transit, then a contract can fall apart at the beginning of the transit. And it will continue to raise problems till the end of the transit says Hirav Shah.

a. Agriculture infrastructure fund to be made available for APMCs for augmenting their infrastructure

b. 1,000 more Mandis to be integrated into the E-NAM market place

c. Five major fishing hubs, including Chennai, Kochi, and Paradip, to be developed

d. A multipurpose seaweed park to be established in Tamil Nadu

In a nutshell, besides the widely expected allocation increases to housing, infrastructure, health, and textiles, the move to curb prolonged tax scrutiny and firm mindset shown to privatize certain PSUs, creation of ARCs for bad loans, and monetize government land banks are steps in the right direction.

Conclusion:

“Budget 2021 is Growth Oriented and Indian Government will be BOLD,” says Business Astrologer Hirav Shah.
Indeed, the Union Budget 2021-22 could be called a vision statement, a roadmap to get the world’s fastest-growing major economy back on track.