The finance minister said Budget support has been directed towards sectors that generate large-scale employment. These include textiles, marine products, fishing and footwear.
The Union Budget 2026 may not have changed income tax rates, but it brings several practical updates that affect how individuals file returns, disclose income and deal with compliance. From easier timelines to simpler rules, here are the key takeaways taxpayers should know.
In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an increase in STT on futures and options trades.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it clear in her Budget speech that the Securities Transaction Tax, or STT, will go up for derivatives trades from April 1, 2026.
After Budget 2026, long-term capital gains have emerged as a key talking point among investors and market watchers alike. So why is LTCG suddenly being discussed everywhere?
The annual Budget is now just one checkpoint in a much longer race for an India that has, over the past decade, grown into Bharat. And that, in many ways, is a sign of an economy coming of age.
With the new rates, STT on futures has increased from 0.02% to 0.05%, while options now attract 0.15% on the premium. This means the tax hits high-frequency traders the hardest because it applies on every single trade.
The tax benefit still exists, but it is now available only in a specific situation. Earlier, individual investors did not have to pay any capital gains tax if they held a Sovereign Gold Bond till maturity, but after the Budget 2026 announcement that has changed.
Under the Budget, VB-G RAM G has been allocated Rs 95,692 crore, positioning it as the single largest component of the Department of Rural Development's spending.
The Union Budget 2026 primarily focused on infrastructure expansion, domestic manufacturing, boosting defence spending, tax simplification and a long-term fiscal roadmap, among others.
A record Rs 53.5 trillion budget cuts the deficit to 4.3% of GDP — but India now spends more servicing debt than building infrastructure.
Sitharaman presented her ninth straight Union Budget in Parliament earlier in the day, with key focus on infrastructure, AI, easing tax filings, boosting domestic manufacturing, and defence spending among others.
Income tax relief is always one of the most closely watched parts of the Union Budget, especially for salaried and middle-class taxpayers. As Budget 2026 was presented in Parliament, many were keen to see whether any changes were announced for those dependent on monthly salaries.
The STT hike raises costs and tempers derivatives frenzy, but experts say the broader market remains stable. For retail investors, the shift signals a move toward smarter, slower and more disciplined trading.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the budget was announced in Parliament, Shivakumar said Karnataka did not appear to have gained significantly.
Budget 2026 puts buybacks back in the spotlight, reshaping how India Inc returns cash and how investors respond. But in this new regime, who truly gains and who loses?
In her 124-minute speech -- after which the Sensex plunged over 1,600 points before staging a partial recovery -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a higher capital expenditure outlay of Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27 and set a fiscal deficit target of 4.3 per cent of GDP.
Taken together, the Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund, higher capital spending and focus on smaller cities point to a more execution-driven approach to infrastructure development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India's 140 crore citizens are no longer content with being the world's fastest-growing economy and want the country to become the world's third-largest economy "as soon as possible." He said the Union Budget gives equal importance to multiple sectors and lays the groundwork for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Highlighting Nari Shakti, Modi praised Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling the Budget historic for underscoring India's commitment to women's empowerment. "As a woman Finance Minister, Nirmala ji has set a new record by presenting the Union Budget for the ninth consecutive time," the Prime Minister said, lauding her leadership and consistency.
From schools and colleges to social media platforms, content creation is getting policy backing. Budget 2026 outlines steps to support creators, local languages and creative skills at an early stage.
Infra, tech and manufacturing take the spotlight, but the market reaction adds a twist. Read on for a clearer view of what stood out in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2026 presentation.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a tax holiday until 2047 for foreign cloud service companies using Indian data centres, aiming to boost investment and digital infrastructure.
In the Budget, the government proposed an increase in the Securities Transaction Tax on several derivatives products. The Securities Transaction Tax on options premium has been raised from 0.1% to 0.15%.
The S&P BSE Sensex was down by 1,348.50 points to 80,921.73, while the NSE Nifty50 crashed 494.35 points to 24,826.30 as of 12:34 PM.
Budget 2026 opens wider doors for NRI investors, strengthens long-term foreign capital, improves market liquidity and aligns Indian equities with global portfolios through expanded limits, simpler rules and a more stable investment framework.
Presenting the Union Budget 2026, the Finance Minister said the government will review the rules governing non-debt foreign investments under foreign exchange laws.
The government is looking to update India's foreign exchange framework to reflect a more open, growth-oriented approach that matches the country's ambitions for the next decade.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced significant support for MSMEs and manufacturing sectors in the Union Budget 2026-27, aiming to boost economic growth and global competitiveness.
To support traditional sectors, Sitharaman announced the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj initiative to strengthen khadi and handloom activities at the village level.
Union Budget 2026 places education at the centre of India's growth strategy, with major announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on skill development, AI-driven learning, healthcare training, women in STEM, new institutes, and youth-focused reforms aimed at boosting jobs and human capital.
Union Budget 2026: India is embarking on a transformative journey to expand its high-speed rail network with seven new corridors, aiming to boost connectivity and promote sustainable travel.
In the previous Budget for FY25, capital expenditure was set at Rs 11.21 lakh crore. The increase to Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27 shows a continued focus on public spending to support economic activity.
