india

Updated: Feb 01, 2019 16:59 IST

Presenting the Interim Budget 2019, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday explained some of the key proposals in Hindi, eliciting thumping response from ruling members.

Finance ministers traditionally stick to their written speech in English. During the 100-minute speech, Goyal spoke in Hindi on various occasions. (Live updates)

READ: Middle class gets tax relief, farmers assured income in election budget

A smiling Goyal, the interim finance minister in the absence of Arun Jaitley who is in the US for treatment, peppered his speech with references to Hindi movie “Uri” and BJP’s victory in Haryana bypolls, among others.

Whether it was about tax sops for middle class or budget allocation for defence sector, Goyal also explained them in Hindi that saw his party members thumping their desks.

READ: No tax for annual incomes up to Rs 5 lakh

The government has decided to dole out tax sops to middle class, including doubling of income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh, raising standard deduction to Rs 50,000 and provided concessions on interest income from bank deposits and rent.

At one point of time when an Opposition member laughed loudly in response to Budget announcements, Goyal quipped that it reminded him of the ‘Ram Lila’