New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- The budget for FY26 puts money back into the hands of the middle class and taxpayers, a category that is "helping run the country", finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a post-budget interview with Doordarshan on Saturday. "I'm not viewing this as income foregone," she added.

Edited excerpts:

Why has the government foregone Rs.1 trillion in revenue? What is the economic justification behind this move?

I want to thank the Hon'ble Prime Minister because it was his guidance that we keep aside the calculation of revenue foregone and put money back into the hands of people. Because who are these people or category of people? They're taxpayers. When we have to put money in the hands of people then it's a different...