Union Budget has been a hit in terms of the PR & headlines management. But it has largely failed to address the concerns of the Indian middle class reeling under hyper-inflation, lower wage growth, rising property prices, depleting domestic savings and increasing household debt. To make them believe that the Income Tax exemption limit of INR 12 lakhs has qualified them to buy a house is only adding insult to their injury. China with more or less similar challenges and as large demography has weathered this challenge in a far more structured manner, after the Covid crisis. The question is whether we are ready to learn the art of managing economy from the neighboring country with bigger economy, GDP and Per Capita Income?