Union Budget 2026 Live Tracker

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has concluded the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27. The speech emphasized execution, stability, and digital productivity. For a detailed breakdown of all policy changes and real-time market impact analysis, follow us at https://x.com/MultibaggAI for further details.

Adds that taxpayers can close cases by paying an additional amount in lieu of penalty (beyond just paying dues).

Adds that “honest taxpayers” willing to settle disputes by paying all dues will have an avenue to do so; further details not provided in the speech snippet.

Complete removal of the ₹10 lakh per-consignment value cap on courier exports; tech-enabled improvements for handling rejected/returned export consignments; proposal to revise international baggage clearance rules to enhance duty-free allowances and clarify temporary carriage of goods. Also notes a dispute-settlement avenue for honest taxpayers willing to pay dues (details not specified).

New fisheries export facilitation: Fish caught by Indian vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone or on the high seas will be made duty-free. Landing such fish at foreign ports will be treated as export of goods, with safeguards to prevent misuse during catch, transit or transshipment. Also notes phased expansion of advanced imaging/AI risk assessment to scan every container across major ports.

New: A single, interconnected digital window for clearances across government agencies by FY-end. Processes covering ~70% of interdigitated cargo (food, drugs, plant/animal, wildlife) to be operational on this system by April 2026. Also proposes a unified customs integrated system rolled out over two years and expanded use of non-intrusive scanning with advanced imaging.

New customs measures: imports with no compliance needs can be auto-cleared via trusted importer bill of entry with arrival-triggered customs notification for immediate release; customs warehousing to shift to an operator-centric model using common declarations, electronic tracking and risk-based audits, reducing officer-dependent approvals and delays.

New proposals: Tier-3 AEO accreditation pathway; extend customs advance ruling validity from 3 years to 5; encourage other government agencies to give preferential treatment using AEO status; recognize trusted regular importers in risk systems to reduce repeat verifications; enable export cargo via electronic sealing.

FM proposes trust-based customs measures: extend duty-deferment period for Tier-2 and Tier-3 Authorized Economic Operators (AAOs) from 15 days to 30 days, and extend similar duty-deferment facility to eligible manufacturer-importers for smoother, faster clearance with minimal intervention.

FM proposes reducing the tariff rate on all dutiable goods imported for personal use from 20% to 10%, and exempting basic customs duty on 17 drugs/medicines to provide relief, especially for cancer patients. Also mentions adding 7 more rare diseases (details/criteria not fully stated in the excerpt).

FM proposes exempting basic customs duty on specified parts used to manufacture microwave ovens to deepen value addition in consumer electronics. Also, as a one-time measure, eligible manufacturing units in SEZs can sell into the domestic tariff area at a concessional 2% rate, capped to a prescribed proportion.

New measures: basic customs duty exemption on capital goods for processing critical minerals in India; exclude full biogas value when computing central excise duty on biogas-blended CNG; exempt BCD on components/parts for manufacturing civilian training/other aircraft and on imported raw materials used to make aircraft parts.

FM proposes extending the export time period from the existing six months to one year for exporters of leather/textile garments, leather or synthetic footwear, and other leather products.

FM proposes extending basic customs duty exemption on capital goods used to manufacture lithium-ion cells for battery energy storage systems, exempting BCD on sodium antimonate imports for solar glass manufacturing, and extending (and expanding scope of) BCD exemption on imports for nuclear power projects till 2035.

FM also proposes extending the time period for export of final products (details not specified in the excerpt).

FM proposes sector-specific customs changes to promote exports: raise duty-free import limit for specified seafood processing inputs to 3% of prior year FOB export turnover (from 1%), and extend duty-free import facility for specified inputs from leather/synthetic footwear exports to include shoe uppers exports.

FM shifts to indirect taxes, proposing customs/central excise changes to simplify tariff structure, support domestic manufacturing, boost export competitiveness, correct duty inversion, and remove long-standing customs duty exemptions where items are made in India or imports are negligible; also aims to simplify determining applicable duty rates.

FM proposes allowing set-off of brought-forward MAT credit only under the new corporate tax regime, capped at one-fourth of tax liability. MAT to become a final tax with no further credit accumulation from 1 Apr 2026, and the final MAT rate reduced to 14% from 15%.

FM reiterates that corporate taxation was reformed in 2019 by introducing a simplified regime with a lower tax rate (no new rate/eligibility details provided).

FM proposes rationalising TCS to 2% for sellers of alcoholic liquor, scrap and minerals, and cutting TCS on tendu leaves from 5% to 2%. Also proposes raising STT: futures to 0.05% (from 0.02%), and options premium/exercise to 0.15% (from 0.10%/0.125%).

FM proposes taxing share buybacks as capital gains for all shareholder types to protect minority holders. To curb promoter tax arbitrage, an additional buyback tax is proposed: effective 22% for corporate promoters and 30% for non-corporate promoters. Also proposes rationalizing the definition of “accountant” for safe-harbor purposes.

FM proposes exempting all non-residents taxed on a presumptive basis from Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT). Also proposes aligning tax disclosure via a joint MCA–CBDT committee to embed ICDS into Ind-AS, eliminating separate ICDS-based accounting from tax year 2027-28.

FM proposes new tax measures for electronics JIT logistics and bonded-zone manufacturing: (1) safe-harbor for non-resident component warehousing in bonded warehouses with a 2% profit margin (implying ~0.7% tax), and (2) a five-year income-tax exemption for non-residents supplying capital goods/equipment/tooling to toll manufacturers in bonded zones.

FM proposes a tax holiday till 2047 for foreign companies providing global cloud services using data center services from India, with a condition that services to Indian customers be routed via an Indian reseller. Also extends modified-return facility to entities entering APA with associated entities, and provides a 15% cost-based safe harbor where the India data-center service provider is a related entity.

Safe-harbor eligibility threshold for IT services raised from ₹300 crore to ₹2,000 crore; approvals to be automated and rule-driven with no tax officer review. Companies can continue the same safe-harbor for up to 5 years. Unilateral APA process for IT services to be fast-tracked with target conclusion within 2 years (extendable by 6 months on taxpayer request).

FM proposes dividend-tax exemption for 3 years on dividend income received by a notified national cooperative federation for investments in companies made up to 31.1.2026, only if dividends are further distributed to member cooperatives. Also proposes clubbing interconnected software/ITeS/KPO/contract R&D services into a single ‘information technology services’ category with a common safe-harbor margin of 15.5%.

FM proposes allowing disclosure of non-immovable foreign assets with aggregate value below ₹20 lakh and granting immunity from prosecution, retrospectively effective from 1-10-2024. Deduction for primary cooperatives supplying members’ produce to be extended to include cattle feed and cotton seed produced by members. Under the new tax regime, inter-cooperative society dividend income to be deductible to the extent it is further distributed to members.

FM proposes rationalising the Income Tax Act prosecution framework: decriminalising non-production of books/documents and cases involving tedious payment requirements where payment is made in kind; minor offences to attract fines only; remaining prosecutions to be aligned with quantum of offence with only simple imprisonment, maximum term reduced to two years, and courts empowered to convert even those into fines.

FM adds that once an updated return is filed (with the additional 10% tax), the assessing officer will rely only on this updated return for proceedings.

FM proposes extending the existing immunity-from-penalty/prosecution framework to misreporting if the taxpayer pays an additional 100% of the tax amount over and above tax and interest. Also, penalties for certain technical defaults (e.g., failure to get accounts audited, not furnishing transfer pricing audit report, and not filing statement for financial transactions) will be converted into fees.

FM proposes integrating assessment and penalty proceedings via a common order, enabling prosecution waiver on payment of ₹1 lakh fee, removing interest liability on penalty amount during first-appeal period, reducing prepayment for appeals from 20% to 10% (on core tax demand only), and allowing taxpayers to update returns even after reassessment proceedings to reduce litigation.

New details of the one-time foreign asset disclosure scheme: Category A covers non-disclosed overseas income/assets up to ₹1 crore, requiring payment of 30% tax on FMV/undisclosed income plus an additional 30% (in lieu of penalty) with immunity from prosecution. Category B covers cases where income was disclosed/tax paid but asset not declared, with asset value up to ₹5 crore and immunity from both penalty and prosecution.

New proposals: keep ITR-1/ITR-2 filing deadline at 31 July; extend non-audit business cases for trusts to 31 August; allow resident buyers to deduct/deposit TDS on non-resident immovable property sales via PAN-based challan (no TAN needed); and introduce a one-time six-month foreign asset disclosure scheme for small taxpayers (students, young professionals, tech employees, relocated NRIs, etc.).

FM proposes: TDS on specified services to be either 1% or 2%; a rule-based automated scheme for small taxpayers to obtain lower/nil TDS deduction certificates (instead of applying to assessing officer); enable depositories to accept Form 15G/15H and forward to relevant companies for investors holding securities across multiple firms; extend return revision deadline from 31 Dec to 31 Mar with a nominal fee; and stagger timelines for filing tax returns.

FM proposes: (1) Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awards to natural persons exempt from income tax; related TDS to be removed. (2) TCS on overseas tour packages reduced to 2% (from 5%/20%) with no amount threshold. (3) TCS under LRS for education and medical remittances cut from 5% to 2%. (4) Supply of manpower services to be explicitly covered under TDS provisions for contractor payments to remove ambiguity.

FM says the comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is complete and a new Income Tax Act, 2025 will take effect from 1 April 2026. Simplified income tax rules and redesigned forms will be notified shortly to ease compliance for ordinary taxpayers.

FM provides BE 2026–27 fiscal numbers: non-debt receipts ₹36.5 lakh crore; total expenditure ₹53.5 lakh crore; Centre’s net tax receipts ₹28.7 lakh crore. To fund the fiscal deficit, net market borrowings from dated securities are pegged at ₹11.7 lakh crore, with gross market borrowings at ₹17.2 lakh crore; balance via small savings/other sources.

FM cites revised estimates: non-debt receipts at ₹34 lakh crore, including Centre’s net tax receipts at ₹26.7 lakh crore; total expenditure revised to ₹49.6 lakh crore (capex mentioned but figure not provided in the snippet).

FM reiterates medium-term fiscal management goal of debt-to-GDP at 50% (+/-1%) by 2030-31; central govt debt-to-GDP estimated at 55.6% in BE 2026-27 vs 56.1% in RE 2025-26.

Govt accepts Finance Commission recommendation to retain vertical share of devolution at 41%. Provides ₹1.4 lakh crore as Finance Commission grants to states for FY2026-27, including rural/urban local body and disaster management grants; reiterates fiscal consolidation commitment.

FM proposes a new scheme to develop Buddhist circuits across Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura—covering preservation of temples/monasteries, interpretation centres, connectivity and pilgrim amenities. Speech also mentions provision of 4,000 e-buses and notes the 16th Finance Commission submitted its report to the President on 17 Nov 2025.

FM announces setting up ‘NIMHANS 2’ and upgrading National Mental Health Institutes at Ranchi and Tezpur as regional apex institutions. Emergency and trauma care capacity will be increased by 50% in district hospitals via new emergency/trauma centres. Also proposes development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur, with focus on Purvodaya states and the Northeast.

FM reiterates mental health and trauma-care commitment, noting India currently lacks national institutes for mental health care.

FM announces ‘Divyaang Sahara Yojana’ to ensure timely access to quality assistive devices: support ALIMCO to set up/scale production, invest in R&D with AI integration, strengthen PM Divyaangjan Kendras, and set up assistive-technology marts as modern retail-style centers for Divyaangjan and senior citizens. Also flags mental health/trauma care gap—no national institutes for mental health care.

FM proposes supporting women’s transition from credit-linked livelihoods to enterprise ownership by setting up community-owned ‘SHE marts’ within cluster-level federations using enhanced/innovative financing instruments. Announces ‘Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana’ to provide industry-relevant, customized training for dignified livelihood opportunities, with focus on roles in IT, AVGC, hospitality, and food & beverages sectors.

FM proposes support for cultivation/value-addition of walnuts, almonds and pine nuts via a dedicated programme engaging youth, and announces ‘Bharat Vistar’—a multilingual AI tool integrating Agri-Stack portals and ICAR agricultural practices to provide customized advisories, improve productivity and reduce risk. Also proposes ‘She marts’ for rural women-led enterprises, building on the Namo/Nakpati Didi programme.

FM proposes a dedicated programme for Indian cashew and cocoa to achieve self-reliance in raw cashew and coconut production/processing, enhance export competitiveness, and build premium global brands by 2030. Government will also partner with states to promote focused sandalwood cultivation and post-harvest processing, including rejuvenating old low-yield orchards and expanding high-density plantations.

FM proposes support for high-value crops across regions (coconut, sandalwood, cocoa, cashew in coastal areas; agar trees in the Northeast; almonds, walnuts and pine nuts in hilly regions). A new coconut promotion scheme is announced to boost output and productivity, including interventions such as replacing non-productive trees.

FM details support for animal husbandry entrepreneurship via a credit-linked subsidy programme, scaling up/modernising livestock enterprises, building integrated livestock–dairy–poultry value chains, and promoting livestock farmer producer organisations to diversify farm outputs.

FM outlines targeted efforts for: boosting farmer incomes via productivity and entrepreneurship (focus on small/marginal farms), expanding youth livelihood/training and assisted devices, improving access to mental health and trauma care for vulnerable groups, prioritising development in poorer states and the North East, and initiating integrated development of 500 reservoirs/amritsarovars to strengthen the fisheries value chain and market access in coastal areas.

FM proposes launching a Khelo India Mission to transform the sports sector over the next decade, including an integrated talent pathway via multi-tier training centres, coach/support-staff development, sports science & technology integration, competitions/leagues, and expanded sports infrastructure.

FM proposes developing 15 archaeological sites—such as Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallu, Sarnath, Hastinapur and Leh Palace—into experiential cultural destinations, with curated public walkways, interpretation centres/conservation labs and immersive storytelling tech for guides. Also mentions India hosting the first-ever Global Big Cat Summit with heads of government/ministers from 95+ countries to discuss conservation strategies.

FM announces development of ecologically sustainable mountain trekking trails across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and J&K; trails in Arakku Valley (Eastern Ghats) and Pudigai Malai (Western Ghats); turtle trails at key nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala; and three birdwatching trails around Pulikat Lake (AP–TN). Mentions establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance in 2024.

FM proposes a pilot to upskill 10,000 tourist guides across 20 iconic sites via a standardized 12-week hybrid course with IIM collaboration, and to set up a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid to digitally document cultural/spiritual/heritage places—creating jobs for local researchers, content creators and tech partners.

FM announces setting up/upgrading four astronomy infrastructure facilities (National Large Solar Telescope, National Large Optical Infrared Telescope, Himalayan Chandra Telescope, Cosmos II Planetarium) to promote immersive astrophysics/astronomy experiences and boost tourism. Also proposes a National Institute of Hospitality by upgrading the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology.

FM announces support to states (via challenge route) to create five university townships near major industrial/logistics corridors, hosting multiple universities, research institutions, skilling centres and residences. Also proposes VGF/viability gap funding and capital support to establish one girls’ hostel in every district.

FM proposes support for Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai to set up AVGC content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, and to establish a new National Institute of Design (via challenge route) to boost design education in eastern India.

FM adds that livestock contributes close to 16% of farm income (including poor and marginal households) while reiterating the loan-linked capital subsidy plan to expand private veterinary/para-veterinary colleges, hospitals, labs and breeding facilities.

Speech newly flags the 'Orange Economy' with an explicit reference to India’s animation segment, indicating a creative industries focus beyond earlier veterinary/AYUSH announcements.

FM proposes a loan-linked capital subsidy scheme to set up private-sector veterinary and para-veterinary colleges, veterinary hospitals, diagnostic labs and breeding facilities, aiming to add 20,000+ veterinary professionals; collaboration with foreign institutions will also be facilitated. A Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar is also announced to strengthen evidence-based research, training and awareness.

FM proposes setting up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda and upgrading AYUSH pharmacies and drug-testing labs to strengthen certification standards and skilled manpower to meet rising global demand for Ayurveda exports.

FM proposes a new scheme to support states in setting up five regional medical value tourism hubs with private-sector partnership. These integrated healthcare complexes will combine medical, education and research facilities, including Ayur centres, facilitation centres and diagnostics/post-care/rehab infrastructure.

FM announces upgrading institutions for allied health professionals and setting up new AHB institutions across private and government sectors, covering 10 disciplines. Target is to add 1 lakh allied health professionals over five years, build stronger geriatric/allied care services, and roll out NSQF-aligned programs to train multi-skilled caregivers (including wellness yoga and operating medical assistive devices).

FM says a standing committee will recommend measures to make India a global services leader with a 10% global share by 2047, prioritizing growth, employment and exports, and assessing AI’s impact on jobs and skill needs with proposed interventions to create skilled career pathways.

FM links the renewed services/jobs push to ongoing emerging-tech and research initiatives, citing the AI Mission, National Quantum Mission, Anusandhaan National Research Fund, and a proposed R&D and Innovation Fund.

FM states that close to 25 crore individuals have come out of multi-dimensional poverty over the past decade due to sustained, reform-oriented government efforts.

FM announces a renewed emphasis on the service sector to create pathways for youth aspirations, and proposes setting up a high-powered “education to employment and enterprise” body/panel.

FM highlights a broader focus on emerging technologies including AI, calling the 21st century technology-driven and noting government steps to support adoption benefiting farmers, women in STEM, and youth upskilling.

FM proposes allowing PROIs to invest in equity instruments of listed Indian companies via the Portfolio Investment Scheme; per-individual PROI limit to rise from 5% to 10% and aggregate limit for all individual PROIs from 10% to 24%.

FM says individual persons resident outside India (PROI) will be permitted to invest in certain India instruments (details pending as the sentence is incomplete).

FM proposes a ₹100 crore incentive for a single municipal bond issuance exceeding ₹1,000 crore to encourage larger cities to raise funds via muni bonds. The existing AMRIT scheme that supports smaller/medium issuances (up to ₹100 crore) will continue.

FM proposes restructuring Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) to improve scale and efficiency in public sector NBFCs. Also announces a review of FEMA non-debt instruments rules to make foreign investment framework more user-friendly, and proposes corporate bond market reforms including a market-making framework, derivatives on corporate bond indices, and total return swaps on corporate bonds.

FM proposes setting up a high-level committee on banking for ‘Vikashit Bharat’ to comprehensively review the sector and align it with India’s next growth phase, while safeguarding stability, inclusion and consumer protection. Speech also references a ‘Vikashit Bharat’ vision for NBFCs with clear credit-disbursement targets (no figures cited).

FM proposes ₹5,000 crore per CER over five years via a challenge-mode, reform-cum-result-based financing mechanism. Announces seven high-speed rail corridors to promote sustainable passenger mobility: Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, and Varanasi–Siliguri.

FM proposes a ₹20,000 crore outlay over five years to scale carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies across five industrial sectors—power, steel, cement, refineries and chemicals. Budget also introduces mapping of city economic regions with a focus on Tier 2/3 cities and temple towns for modern infrastructure and basic amenities.

FM references carbon capture, utilisation and storage aligned with the roadmap launched in December 2025 (no additional details shared beyond the earlier mention).

FM adds that new facilities will also be set up at Varanasi and Patna (in addition to earlier waterways/coastal shipping and seaplane measures).

FM announces coastal cargo promotion scheme to incentivize modal shift and raise inland waterways/coastal shipping share from 6% to 12% by 2047. New incentives proposed to indigenize seaplane manufacturing to boost last-mile/remote connectivity and tourism, plus a seaplane BGF support scheme for operations. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage referenced in line with the Dec 2025 roadmap.

FM proposes dedicated freight corridors connecting Dankuni (east) to Surat (west), and to operationalise 20 new national waterways over five years starting with National Waterways-5 in Odisha to link mineral/industrial hubs to Paradeep and Dhamra ports. Regional training institutes will be set up for waterways manpower, alongside developing a ship-repair ecosystem for inland waterways.

FM proposes raising public capex to ₹12.2 lakh crore for FY2026-27. A new Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund will offer prudentially calibrated partial credit guarantees to lenders to de-risk infrastructure development/construction. Govt will also accelerate recycling/monetisation of significant CPSE real estate assets via dedicated REITs/InvITs, including to support environmentally sustainable cargo movement.

FM says public capital expenditure has risen from ₹2 lakh crore (2014-15) to an allocation of ₹11.2 lakh crore in BE 2025-26, with continued focus on infrastructure development in tier-2/3 cities (population over 5 lakh).

FM says TReDS receivables will be introduced as asset-backed securities to build a secondary market and improve liquidity/settlement. Govt will also work with ICAI/ICSI/ICMAI to create short-term modular courses/tools to train accredited ‘corporate mitras’ in tier-2/3 towns to help MSMEs meet compliance at affordable cost.

FM proposes a ₹2,000-crore top-up to the Self-Reliant India Fund (set up in 2021) to support micro enterprises’ access to risk capital and liquidity. Additional measures to deepen MSME financing via TReDS include mandating TReDS as the settlement platform for all CPSP purchases from MSMEs, introducing CGTMSC-backed credit guarantee for invoice discounting on TReDS, and linking GeM with TReDS.

FM proposes a scheme to rejuvenate 200 legacy industrial clusters via infrastructure and technology upgrades, plus a three-pronged MSME push including equity support through a dedicated ₹10,000-crore SME Growth Fund to build ‘champion’ SMEs/micro enterprises.

FM proposes Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative to strengthen khadi, handloom and handicrafts via global market linkage/branding and support for training, skilling and quality. Also announces a dedicated initiative to make India a global hub for affordable, high-quality sports goods by promoting manufacturing, R&D, equipment design and material sciences.

FM adds new textile measures: support for machinery/technology upgradation and common testing & certification centres; a National Handloom and Handicraft Program for targeted weaver/artisan support; TechS Echo Initiative for globally competitive sustainable textiles/apparel; Samarth 2.0 to modernise textile skilling with industry-academia collaboration; and mega textile parks to be set up in challenge mode with focus on value addition in technical textiles.

FM proposes a container manufacturing scheme to build a globally competitive ecosystem with ₹10,000 crore budgetary allocation over five years. Also announces an integrated program for the labour-intensive textile sector, including a National Fibre Scheme for self-reliance in natural (silk, wool, jute), man-made and new-age fibres, plus a textile expansion and employment scheme to modernize traditional clusters.

FM proposes CPSE-led high-tech tool rooms as digitally enabled automated service bureaus to design, test and mass-produce high-precision components at lower cost. Also announces a new scheme to enhance construction and infrastructure equipment manufacturing, focusing on high-value, technologically advanced CIE.

FM proposes supporting mineral-rich states (Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu) to set up dedicated rare earth corridors spanning mining, processing, R&D and manufacturing. Also proposes a new scheme to help states establish dedicated chemical parks via a challenge-route, cluster-based plug-and-play model to boost domestic chemical production and cut imports.

FM announces India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 to develop semiconductor equipment/materials, full‑stack Indian IP, and stronger supply chains, along with industry-led R&D and training centers. Electronics components manufacturing scheme outlay proposed to rise to ₹40,000 crore (from ₹22,919 crore), citing commitments already at 2x targets.

FM specifies Biopharma Shakti outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years; proposes 3 new NIPER institutes and upgrades of 7 existing NIPERs, plus a network of 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites and strengthening CDSCO to meet global standards.

FM introduces “Biopharma Shakti” (Biopharma Strategy for Health Advancement through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation) and flags India’s disease burden shifting toward non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and autoimmune disorders.

FM says over 350 reforms have been rolled out, including GST simplification, labor codes notification and rationalization of mandatory quality control orders. High-level committees and Centre–state coordination are underway to deregulate and cut compliance; she signals upcoming interventions to scale up manufacturing in seven strategic/frontier areas.

FM adds a threefold approach for enabling meaningful participation: sustain continuous, adaptive structural reforms; strengthen a robust, resilient financial sector to mobilize savings and allocate capital efficiently; and leverage cutting-edge technologies, including AI, as force multipliers for better governance.

FM says proposals are inspired by ideas from the Vikasit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, framing this as a unique Yuva Shakti-driven budget, and reiterates focus on ensuring growth dividends reach farmers, SC/ST communities, nomads, youth, the poor and women.

FM reiterates focus on structural reforms, fiscal prudence, monetary stability and public investment, citing ~7% growth and strides in poverty reduction; also flags Atmanirbharata-led manufacturing capacity, energy security and reduced critical import dependence.

The Finance Minister tables the 16th Finance Commission’s 2026–2031 report (main report and annexures) in Hindi and Hindi-English versions, along with an explanatory memorandum on actions taken on its recommendations.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rises to present the Union Budget 2026-27. Stay tuned for live announcements on tax, capex, and key sectors.