Dr Athreya said it is now up to the industry to seize the initiative to push the economy forward by shifting from mere `push' strategy of price cuts, discounts and trade-ins, to more of pull-based marketing strategy. He was speaking at a seminar on `Strategic challenges of the Budget,' organised by the Standing Committee on Public Enterprises (SCOPE). Speaking on the occasion, The Financial Express editor Sanjaya Baru opined that unlike earlier years, this Budget is neither an economist's Budget nor an accountant's one, rather "it is a pragmatic Budget".He said even though the finance minister gave away about Rs 5,500 crore, he nevertheless made provisions to raise Rs 6,000 crore as additional revenue.

Admitting that monsoons still play a vital role in determining economic growth, Dr Baru said, "Without a good agricultural growth and a higher investment in the agri-sector it would be difficult to attain 7 per cent growth."