Mumbai, Feb. 1 -- After finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered a consumption-supporting budget, the ball is now in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) court to deliver the last-mile push to growth with a rate cut next week.

A majority of economists believe that the budget has set the stage for a rate cut by keeping fiscal deficit under control.

"The budget does not add to any pressure to push up inflation. It is only expected to push up demand to meet the already excess capacity in the consumer good space," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, Bank of Baroda.

The government on Saturday announced income tax relief by exempting individuals earning up to Rs.12 lakh annually from paying income tax. The increase in the standard deduct...