Opinion Asia

Delhi's Budget Abracadabra

The Congress Party wants to work economic miracles with no reform.

Updated Feb. 28, 2010 12:01 a.m. ET

India's finance minister declared Friday that he would increase public spending—and government borrowing—while simultaneously shrinking the public deficit. Come again?

The Congress Party-led government's record 11.1 trillion ($240 billion) budget looks much like last year's budget. The priorities are the same: to increase economic growth, make it more "inclusive," and improve the delivery of public-sector services. So, too,...

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