“Various taxes being scrapped is a welcome move but was on expected lines. So was the scrapping of standard deduction, as it was Pranab Mukherjee who had introduced it in 1984, but nothing has been done on that front,” said chartered accountant Hemant C Shah.

Shah said the increase in exemption limit for senior citizens was welcome given the rising medical expenses and the culture of joint family fast disappearing.

Nachiket Kad, a financial consultant, said tax reforms-wise, the budget could have been better. He felt sections like 80L should have been re-introduced and infrastructure bonds and funds given exemptions under 80C.

“An individual would’ve been able to save tax and the government would’ve got more funds in hand. Of the total population that pays taxes, around 70 per cent are salaried. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee should’ve made the budget more encouraging for them,” said Kad.

Ranjit Narse, a marketing professional, agreed: “We are forced to pay professional tax, which it is deducted from our source of income; since it is fully compliant; we deserve a better break on income tax.”