New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Going the whole hog to boost demand and spur private investment, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced nil tax for individuals earning upto Rs 12 lakh a year, higher credit guarantee cover for MSMEs and startups, favourable policy for public-private partnership (PPP) projects and measures to provide further impetus to labour-intensive sectors for creating more jobs. More money in the pockets of the Middle class is expected to boost consumption and provide much-needed support to the economy which is seen logging its lowest growth in the last four years during 2024-25 at 6.4%. "The middle class provides strength for India's growth," Sitharaman said as she presented her eighth Budget in Lok Sabha and an...