This week, Monika unpacks the government’s bold twin tax cuts in 2025 and asks if India is switching gears to go all-in on growth. She explains how both direct and indirect tax reductions put more money into people’s hands but also create a revenue gap of over 3% of the FY25 budget. Monika explores whether this fiscal gamble can revive private investment and lift growth above 7%, or whether it risks delaying fiscal consolidation. She also breaks down the GST Council’s move to simplify the system from four slabs to three, and questions whether the benefits will truly reach consumers or get stuck as corporate profits.

Monika then turns to the Reserve Bank of India’s role in this story. With inflation low and food prices actually falling, she argues that this is the moment for a decisive rate cut to complement the government’s demand push. She examines whether the fiscal deficit target of 4.4% should be relaxed to prioritize domestic demand, and stresses that beyond tax and rate cuts, sustained growth requires process reforms, cleaner cities, better jobs, and smoother governance. She closes with a festive-season reminder that growth begins on the ground — every extra rupee spent by households helps keep the economic engine running.

In listener questions, Linus Sequeira asks if he should wait for the new GST regime before buying a sub-₹12 lakh car, Elin Jain wants advice on managing fund manager changes and a 50% allocation to one fund house, and Jairaj from MP seeks clarity on buying a super top-up health policy from the same insurer versus a different one.

Chapters:

(0:00 – 0:00) The Big Tax Cuts and Economic Strategy

(0:00 – 0:00) GST, Price Transmission, and Risks

(0:00 – 0:00) Car Purchase and GST Considerations

(0:00 – 0:00) Fund Manager Changes and Allocation

(0:00 – 0:00) Senior Citizen Insurance Top-Ups

If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Monika’s book on basic money management

⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠

Monika’s book on mutual funds

⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠

Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life

⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠

Calculators

⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠

You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan. 

Twitter ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠

Instagram ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠

Facebook ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠

LinkedIn ⁠@MonikaHalan⁠

Production House: ⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠

Production Assistant:⁠ Anshika Gogoi