New Delhi, Feb. 5 -- New Delhi: India is currently in the midst of two extremely rare occurrences. First, Prayagraj is hosting the Maha Kumbh, which occurs once in 144 years. And second, the middle-class is actually feeling cheery after a Union Budget.

For decades, India's salaried class viewed themselves as a minority-sandwiched between the elite and what they believe is the world's largest population of the "politically pampered". And in most Budgets, they found the discourse to be dominated by farmers, the poor, women and other groups.

Which is why the record Rs.1 trillion largesse showered by Union Budget 2025-26 on middle-income earners appears to be a veritable mini-revolution in recent policymaking. It can also be a sizeable oppo...