BANGALORE, INDIA: While there are quite a few positive moves in the Union Budget, the industry is not that happy about it. The response to the budget is a strange mixture of satisfaction and anxiety, which reflects the concerns of the tough ties that we are passing through. Response of some industry players towards the Budget:

Manoj Kohli, CEO & Joint Managing Director, Bharti Airtel

The budget signals significant demand stimulus emanating from its rural and infrastructure growth packages. Telecom infrastructure is an engine of growth and if we are able to double the tele-density to 75 per cent in the next five years, especially due to the rural development focus of the government, then GDP growth can be enhanced by 2-3 per cent.

Sameer Garde, Country General Manager, Dell India

The clarity on dual levy of software is a welcome move. The honorable FM has clarified that the excise duty and CVD is exempted on the value attributable to the transfer of right to use the packaged software. However, we continue to study and analyze the notification for better clarity and implications.

Naresh Wadhwa, President and Country Manager, Cisco - India and SAARC

On the face of it, the budget put forth by the government is positive and focuses on inclusive development. It is encouraging, especially the fact that there is a thrust on infrastructure development, rural development, education and social welfare.

Leveraging technology as a tool for accountability, better governance, in business and administration is a step in the right direction.

The allocation of funds for e-governance investment schemes like the unique identity number for every Indian and the formation of a Centralized Processing Centre to process electronically filed tax returns will enable effective delivery of public services through public private partnerships.

Neeraj Paliwal, NXP India Country Manager, VP & SoC Factory Global Manager, NXP Semiconductors

The imposition of five per cent customs duty on Set Top Boxes are welcome moves as this may encourage set-top box manufacturing in India for India's own market.

Furthermore the increased spends on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and Commonwealth Games should enable the rapid deployment of contactless technology in IT-enabled financial inclusion in villages, and robust infrastructure upgrades that will prepare Delhi for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.