For women, the income tax limit goes up from Rs 145,000 to Rs 180,000. In case of senior women citizens, it increases from Rs 195,000 to Rs 225,000.

However, there are few more things that the finance minister has done for the women and housewives. The reduction in some of the customs and excise duties would lead to some goods becoming cheaper, especially medicines, two-wheelers, washing machines, refrigerators, small cars, etc, and this would be a relief to the housewife as she struggles to manage her household within a limited budget.

The new tax proposals will give an extra Rs 4,000 per year to her to spend or save.

Image: Housewives went around central Bombay banging steel dinner plates with rolling pins late last year in protest against the rise in prices of essential commodities.