The results paint a picture of the public’s expectations — strong support for investment in future-ready industries and social welfare, along with a more divided outlook on fiscal strategy and economic reforms.

Nearly 90 per cent of people also supported a cut in taxes, which many feel is a must to give a boost to disposable income in an era of high prices and a similar number, possibly fed up of inhaling toxic air, also voted in favour climate change remedial measures. 

The audience poll was conducted on The Secretariat's Linkedin and X (formerly Twitter) for the duration of a week, from January 21 to January 28. While the poll provides valuable insights into public sentiment, we do have a pinch of salt ready.

The responses are not a representative sample of the entire population, but rather reflect the views of those informed readers who chose to participate, potentially skewing results towards more engaged or digitally connected individuals. Complex policy questions often require nuanced understanding, and responses may be influenced by how our questions were framed.

For deeper policy insights before, during, and after the Budget, watch out for our in-depth coverage throughout the week.

Now, onto the results of our poll.

Broad Consensus On Technology, Elder Care, Climate Action

Some areas received near-unanimous support. Every respondent agreed that India must invest more in research and development to secure leadership in emerging technologies. This reflects the widespread recognition of the importance of cutting-edge technologies in achieving sustainable economic growth.

A similar level of support was evident for a national old-age pension scheme and a dedicated elder care policy, reflecting growing awareness of the country’s ageing population. The respondents are well aware of the consequences of a shifting demography.

Climate action was another major priority. Ninety-four per cent of respondents backed increased funding for green energy, electric vehicles and afforestation. The demand for more aggressive measures suggests an urgency among citizens for policies that directly tackle environmental concerns.

Divided Opinions 

Economic measures elicited mixed reactions. While 87 per cent of respondents supported reducing income tax to boost consumption, perspectives on job protection and business regulations were more varied.

More than 80 per cent of participants wanted government intervention to prevent job losses due to Artificial Intelligence, but only 75 per cent supported direct government incentives for job creation. This may sound contradictory, but it likely represents a growing unease among our readers over various forms of direct government transfers. 

Meanwhile, 80 per cent backed reducing bureaucratic hurdles to make it easier to start or shut down businesses, while 10 per cent remained unsure about such policy shifts. This result underlines the importance of increasing the ease of doing business.

When it came to the Budget addressing the question of population growth, a quarter of the respondents were unsure. This uncertainty around population growth signifies a slow but gradual shift in popular perception from a "demographic dividend" to a "population as a burden" outlook.

The most divisive question centred around fiscal deficit and infrastructure investment. Should the government relax its fiscal deficit target to allocate more funds for infrastructure? Opinion was split evenly, with 42 per cent in favour, 42 per cent against, and 17 per cent undecided.

This divide highlights a fundamental debate on economic policy — whether to prioritise long-term growth through investment or maintain fiscal discipline to ensure stability.

Roadmap For Policymakers

The poll results highlight clear public priorities on innovation, social welfare and climate change, while showing uncertainty in areas like economic incentives and fiscal trade-offs.

As India’s policymakers draft the upcoming Budget, they face the challenge of addressing these demands while balancing economic growth with financial prudence. Whether they manage to meet these expectations will become clear when the Budget is finally unveiled.