The Union Budget 2025, ahead of a few significant Assembly Elections, quite obviously aimed at headline management & garnering likes. And to a large extent the Finance Minister & Modi Government succeeded in this, since the most vocal middle class of India finally got something to cheer about. However, the larger issue is whether the Personal Income Tax exemption level up to an income of INR 12 lakh going to change the household realities of the shrinking middle class of India. More importantly, will it lead to consumption and asset creation, and that too of a high value asset like real estate.