Expectations from Union Budget run high in poll-bound Kerala

The report of the 16th Finance Commission, likely to be tabled in Parliament, pushes up expectations as the State is anticipating a better deal than it received under the 15th panel. In January, Kerala had presented a hefty wish list to the Union Minister, which included a ₹21,000-crore ‘special fiscal correction package’ assistance for establishing a Defence R&D Corridor and a Rare Earth Corridor and an an additional borrowing space of 0.5% of Gross State Domestic product