Economics is the science of the possible made to look like the art of the impossible' is a definition that would strike a chord with any finance minister of India who every year has to perform the great Indian hope trick. Otherwise known as the Budget-a careful balancing act between revenue and expenditure tax rates and tax sops growth and equity reforms and the status quo. Within these constraints however there is much that a finance minister can actually accomplish as P. Chidambaram one of Ind