The 8,153-word speech by finance minister Piyush Goyal, who was stepping into the shoes of the ailing Arun Jaitley, had some giveaways and some promises to both India and Bharat. But if you look for a subtext, it is this: “We inherited a struggling economy that was crying for structural reform after years of policy paralysis. Our macro report card is good—inflation is down, deficit numbers are within a whisker of the glide path recommended in the FRBM Act and the economic growth numbers are strong. To fix the micro, that means things that will make a difference in your life, give us another chance. And, by the way, to help you help us, here are some rewards targeted at those who most need them.”