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Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee invoked Shakespeare during the budget presentation today to indicate the tough and perhaps thankless nature of his job.

Assessments of the economy by the government and the central bank hinge on a single statistic that will be announced by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today when he presents the Union Budget for 2012-13: the size of the fiscal deficit.

At last a rail budget that serves the nation and doesn't push for petty political gains.

The emerging crises, and fighting qualities, of the US education system hold lessons for the coming Indian Budget. Samar Halarnkar writes.

When Dinesh Trivedi begins his Railway Budget speech on March 14, he will do so in a difficult year - sky rocketing inflation rates and slowing economy. Most will hope that there is no fare hike announced. Ajay Mittal writes.

The secret part of budget deals with the revenue proposals, especially the indirect and direct taxes part. Much of the excitement of that secrecy is already over because we have been following a predictable path over the last several years. Yashwant Sinha says. The skeleton | Delhi durbar | Political economy | Quarantine in Valentine’s month | Jewel in the crown | Sprint to print | The Budget documents comprise | Budget trivia

The finance minister has an unenviable task while presenting the budget this year, given the state of the economy, tax collections and budgetary deficit. Adding to his woes is the recent Vodafone ruling, generating debate on likely budget proposals for taxing indirect transfer of shares and anti-avoidance rules. Milin Thakore writes.