Chennai, Jan. 30 -- As finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman dots the I's and crosses the t's of her speech she will deliver on 1 February, when she presents a record eighth consecutive budget, her biggest concern will be whether the proposals can dispel the clouds hanging over India, the world's fastest-growing large economy.

After the covid-19 pandemic, India experienced a scorching pace of growth for three years-on an average, the economy expanded by more than 8%. However, the second quarter (Q2) of 2024-25 came as a shocker; the country's gross domestic product (GDP) climbed, but by a modest 5.4%.

"The government believes that the GDP trend seen in the second quarter of 2024-25 is only a temporary blip and the economy will see healthy...