The 2020 Union Budget has attracted mixed reviews across sectors and industries. The Real estate sector has been in sloppy waters, especially after 2016 and the RERA regulations. However, the biggest challenge came in 2018 as a result of the IL&FS fiasco. But as it is said, ‘every dark cloud has a silver lining’, even in this budget, the Government has preserved its focus on affordable housing. Let’s learn how: Increase in affordable housing: The qualifying size for affordable housing schemes has also now been raised to 60 sq. meters for the rest of the country, including in the peripheral areas of metros. The 30-sq-meter deadline will apply only in the case of municipal limits of four metropolitan cities. The profit-oriented income tax exemption for promoters of affordable housing systems has also been increased to five years from the earlier qualification criteria of three years after the commencement of the project. Infrastructure status: Afford...