1. The dot com solution: If Yashwant Sinha wants a quick fix solution to the fiscal mess the Government finds itself in, he can do no better than to get on to the dot.com bandwagon. All he needs to do is to announce that the Government will henceforth be a public limited company (as distinct from the private fiefdom that it has conventionally been) and that he intends to disinvest a very tiny fraction of its shares. Consider the track record of this particular dot.com start-up. It can be conclusively proved to have never recorded a profit of any sort. Better still, nobody in his senses will even argue that it can even in future earn profits. That, in the dot.com world, is the ultimate test of lasting value. The prices of goi.com shares should be phenomenal even by Infosys or Wipro standards.

2. The WTO dividend: Following the treaty signed with the US as a result of the dispute settlement ruling in the WTO, India will have to remove physical barriers to imports much sooner than it earlier planned to. While domestic industry howls in protest, Sinha can use this to good effect to boost the none-too-happy fortunes of Indian cricket. Obviously, now that the Government can no longer ban imports of anything, except objectionable items like narcotics and so on, imports of cricketers too must be allowed. While Sinha is most likely to apply high customs duty rates to most items for which imports will now have to be allowed, this is one area where he should swing the other way. In fact, he could show his heart is in the right place by imposing a negative rate of customs duty on imports of cricketers. Anybody importing cricketers, particularly from quality suppliers like Australia will be paid a certain rate per player by the Government.

3. The love tax: The despicable manner in which our youth are lapping up the worst of Western culture - like Valentine's Day - obviously needs to be discouraged by Government policy. What better than to do this through a method that also generates more revenues for the exchequer. Hence, the luxury tax on restaraunts, hotels etc must be pegged particularly high on select days like February 14.

4. The culture concession: Yet, mere disincentives can hardly serve the purpose fully. What is needed is also a system of incentives for well-meaning organisations that are doing their best to redefine Indian cultural values and mores. Hence, Sinha should immediately announce a tax rebate for all donations made to organisations working to preserve India's cultural and historical heritage and protect it from hostile elements. The Kashi Sanskriti Raksha Sangharsh Samiti and the West Bengal PCC(I) are two such organisations that come readily to mind. In fact, citing these as examples in the Budget speech would also immunise Sinha to any charges of political partisanship.

5. The Responsibility Clause: The NDA had promised in its election manifesto that it would usher in a Fiscal Responsibility Act. The leading opposition party, the Congress, too had made a similar promise. Clearly, the nation has given the Government the mandate for such legislation. This is a promise Sinha would do well to honour. The contours of the Act can be fairly simple - it must unambiguously spell out that in all situations, at all times, parties which do not form part of the NDA will be legally held responsible for the fiscal mess.

6. The definitional coup: Since the headlines of most newspapers the day after the Budget are likely to scream about the fiscal deficit having grossly overshot expectations, something needs to be done about it. All that Sinha really needs to do is to have a quiet word with the Speaker. It should be pointed out to Mr GMC Balayogi that the dominant stream of current economic theology treats the fiscal deficit as a swear word. Hence it is clearly unparliamentary language and any references to the same should be ordered expunged from the records and hence unprintable.

7. The backward bail-out: Given that the NDA is a coalition, and a rather diverse one at that, surely targetted sops for regional partners must be a consideration. But how does one target only states ruled by the NDA without kicking up a political fuss. Simple enough. Announce major concessions for projects in backward areas. Expand the parameters of backwardness to include voter behaviour. Sinha can point out to the opposition that they have consistently accused the sangh parivar and its fellow-travellers of living in the medieval age and hence being certifiably backward. Clearly, voting for the BJP and its alliance should be a sign of backwardness and hence be eligible for backward area concessions. This argument would be a double-whammy. Not only does it make sure sops go to NDA-ruled states, it also gives voters a reason to vote for the NDA. A win-win proposition, if ever there were any.

8. The short point: With the opposition and other spoilsports ruining the BJP's plans to allow Government employees to join the RSS, Sinha clearly needs to do something for the faithful, if only to assuage hurt sentiments. Also, the domestic textile industry can do with some official help in these WTO-infested times. So why not announce zero duty excise rates on select textile items like khakhi shorts for instance. Needless to add, competing items of apparel, like jeans and skirts must face higher rates, if only to make up for the revenue shortfall that a cut in excise of khakhi shorts might lead to.

9. The stability plank: The Government has time and again announced its commitment to ensuring that the Indian polity acquires a stability it has sorely lacked in recent years. Should North Block not be part of this effort. Here's a suggestion. Announce that all income of MPs and ministers will be treated as short-term capital gains and subject to high rates of tax if the Lok Sabha and the Government do not complete a five-year term.

10. The downsizing deception: Finance Ministers have over the last decade had to face some embarassment over the fact that staff strength and salary bills keep mounting even as they declare grand plans for downsizing. There is a rather simple solution to the problem. Convince most senior bureaucrats to quit on the understanding that they will be hired as consultants. Staff strength and salary bills go down immediately. Consultany fees can be regarded as investments in human capital and hence treated as capital expenditure, something the economists love.