India’s Union Budget 2026 lays out ambitious bets on growth, infrastructure, manufacturing, green energy and social welfare. But do the numbers and policy choices live up to expectations? We break down the key announcements, sectoral winners and potential gaps in this year’s budget.

Union Budget 2026: Does India Budget Deliver on Its Bets?

Union Budget 2026: Key takeaways on income tax rates, new tax proposals, deadline, taxes on capital gains, customs duty, and what becomes costlier and what becomes cheaper, and more. 

Union Budget 2026: Key takeaways on income tax, LTCG, what becomes costlier and what becomes cheaper

In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the 'Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana'. This new programme aims to develop agricultural districts that are currently lagging in productivity.

Union Budget 2026: What is the ‘PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ and how will it change 100 districts?

A higher allocation for Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) scheme signals a strategic shift in rural employment policy from wage support to development and asset creation in consonance with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Union Budget 2026 allocates funds for both MGNREGA and VB-G RAM G schemes. What does this mean?

Union Budget 2026: No tax relief, only meme relief — Netizens flood social media with savage memes

India Budget 2026 had an unprecedented focus on AI and IT as growth drivers. Tax incentives, funding boost, semiconductor push, data centre reforms, and safe harbour reforms are among the proposals. 

India Budget 2026 had 11 mentions of Artificial Intelligence: What are the AI- and IT-linked proposals by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman?

Union Budget 2026–27 unveiled new schemes spanning AI in agriculture, rare earth corridors, semiconductors, clean energy, textiles and skills, signalling a push for self-reliance, jobs and long-term growth.

Union Budget 2026: Key new schemes announced by FM Sitharaman

Union Budget 2026 introduces a ‘Grameen Credit Score’ to be developed by Public Sector Banks. The framework targets SHG members and rural residents to improve their access to formal credit. This aligns with expanded KCC limits and deeper rural banking services.

Union Budget 2026: What does the new ‘Grameen Credit Score’ mean for rural borrowers?

Budget 2026 positions exports as India’s fourth growth engine, cuts import duties, removes SWS on 82 items, and launches Bharat Trade Net to boost global trade.

Union Budget 2026: Export as the 4th engine, eases customs for global supply chain integration

India Union Budget 2026: FM Sitharaman announces allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for SMEs

The Union Budget 2026, presented amid global economic uncertainties, lays out a clear roadmap for Indias growth, with a sharp focus on the energy sector as a driver of progress.

Union Budget 2026: Three ‘Kartavyas’ drive Sunrise Industries and Energy Security – 5 must-know takeaways

In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new six-year initiative titled the 'Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses'. The programme aims to boost domestic production of Tur, Urad and Masoor to meet rising consumption and achieve self-reliance.

Union Budget 2026: What is the ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’? A six-year plan for self-reliance

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has called the budget 2026 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as  lacklusture and woefully short of the hype that was generated around it.

Union Budget 2026: Rahul Gandhi refuses to comment, Jairam Ramesh calls it 'lacklusture'

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underlined the commitment of the government to sustaining structural reforms and simplifying the tax system. A series of direct tax changes were announced, with a new Income Tax Act set to reshape compliance and administration from the next financial year.

New Income Tax Act from April 1: Buyback taxation, remittance rules & more—Here's what every taxpayers should know

Until now, overseas tour packages attracted TCS ranging between 5 per cent and 20 per cent, depending on the amount spent under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).

Budget 2026: Foreign travel gets cheaper! FM Nirmala Sitharaman cuts TCS on overseas tour packages

In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a major boost for the education sector with a specific focus on technology. A new Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for education will be established to modernise learning.

Education gets AI boost: Rs 500 crore Centre of Excellence announced

Due to the new Budget proposals introduced by Nirmala Sitharaman, STT on futures contracts will jump to 0.05% from 0.02%.

Union Budget 2026: What caused Sensex, Nifty to crash after Sitharaman's budget announcement?

India’s Union Budget for the coming year raises development aid for key neighbours under the Neighbourhood First policy. Support for Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and others has increased, while allocations for Bangladesh, Maldives and Myanmar have been reduced.

India ups budget allocation for Afghanistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka but a cut for Bangladesh

FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced ‘Bharat Vistar’, a multilingual AI tool integrating Agristack and ICAR data, in the Union Budget 2026–27 to boost farm productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce risks for farmers.

What is Bharat Vistar? Indian FM Sitharaman proposes multilingual AI tool for agriculture sector

Union Budget 2026 announces a major relief for taxpayers and businesses by reducing the TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) rate from 5% to 2%, with no stipulation on the amount. This move is expected to ease compliance, boost liquidity, and encourage transactions across sectors.

Budget 2026: TDS Rate Reduced from 5% to 2% Without Any Limit

In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman identified reforms as the 'fuel' to power India's growth engine. She outlined a strategy built on three core areas Taxation, the Financial Sector and Regulatory Reforms to improve ease of doing business and boost investment.

Union Budget 2026: What are the three pillars of the reform ecosystem?

The port, located on Iran's southeastern coast in the Gulf of Oman, has been a key element of New Delhi's regional connectivity strategy, forming part of the International North-South Transport Corridor.

No funding allocated for Chabahar port in Indian Budget 2026

The Finance Minister also emphasized on improving the sports infrastructure for training and competitions. This plan comes as India prepares to host the 100th Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030 and considers a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. 

Union Budget 2026: Govt proposes Khelo India Mission to boost sports sector

FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27, setting the fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP. She said the government met its 2021 pledge on fiscal deficit.

‘I have fulfilled my commitment...’: Indian FM pegs fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP for FY2026-27

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Union Budget 2026: Does India Budget Deliver on Its Bets?

Union Budget 2026: Key takeaways on income tax, LTCG, and price rise

What is the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana announced in Budget 2026?

Union Budget 2026 allocates funds for both MGNREGA and VB-G RAM G schemes. Why?

No tax relief, only meme relief — Netizens flood social media with savage memes

India Budget 2026 had 11 mentions of AI: Examining AI- and IT-linked proposals

Union Budget 2026: Key new schemes announced by FM Sitharaman

No credit history? ‘Grameen credit score’ to help rural India

Export as the 4th engine, budget eases customs for supply chain integration

Indian FM Sitharaman announces allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for SMEs

Union Budget: Three ‘Kartavyas’ drive Sunrise Industries and Energy Security

Union Budget 2026: New six-year mission for self-reliance in pulses

Union Budget: Rahul Gandhi refuses comment, Jairam Ramesh calls it 'lacklusture'

New Income Tax Act from April 1: Buyback taxation, remittance rules & more—Here's what every taxpayers should know

Budget 2026: FM Nirmala Sitharaman cuts TCS on overseas tour packages

Education gets AI boost: Rs 500 crore Centre of Excellence announced

Union Budget 2026: What caused Sensex, Nifty to crash after budget announcement?

India raises aid for Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka; cuts Bangladesh allocation

What is Bharat Vistar? Indian FM proposes AI tool for agriculture sector

Budget 2026: TDS Rate Reduced from 5% to 2% Without Any Limit

Union Budget 2026: What are the three pillars of the reform ecosystem?

No funding allocated for Chabahar port in Indian Budget 2026

Union Budget 2026: Govt proposes Khelo India Mission to boost sports sector

‘Fulfilled my commitment..’: Indian FM pegs fiscal deficit at 4.3% for FY2026-27