Nirmala Sitharaman Union Budget 2026 Speech LIVE: ITR Revision Window Extended Till March 31; FY27 Fiscal Deficit Expected To Be 4.3% Of GDP

Sitharaman Budget Speech LIVE: "I propose a scheme for small taxpayers wherein a rule-based automated process will enable obtaining a lower or nil deduction certificate instead of filing an application with the assessing officer. For the ease of taxpayer holding securities in multiple companies, I propose to enable depositories to accept Form 15G or Form 15H from the investor and provide it directly to various relevant companies," announces Nirmala Sitharaman.

The new IT Act will come into effect from April and the tax returns date has been extended to March 31.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed extending the time limit for filing revised income-tax returns from December 31 to March 31, allowing taxpayers to revise returns on payment of a nominal fee.

Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman says, "I propose to extend time available for revising returns from 31st December to up to 31st March with the payment of a nominal fee. I also propose to stagger the timeline for filing of tax returns - individuals with ITR 1 and ITR 2 will continue to file till 31st July and non-audit business cases or trust are proposed to be allowed time till 31st August."

In a major relief, the government has reduced TCS on overseas tour packages to 2%, down from earlier rates of 5% and 20%, with no minimum amount condition, lowering the upfront tax burden on foreign travel.

Under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), TCS for education and medical expenses abroad has also been cut from 5% to 2%, easing remittances for students and patients.

FM introduces 6-month foreign asset disclosure scheme for tax payers.

TCS rate on overseas tour package reduced from 5-20% to 2%. TDS on LRS for purpose of education reduced. 

The government has announced Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts to promote women entrepreneurship, aimed at improving market access and business growth for women-led ventures.

FM announces a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act 1961. This was completed in the record time and the income tax Act 2025 will come into effect from April 2026. The simple income tax forms will be notified shortly.

Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman says, "I propose that any interest awarded by the motor accident claims tribunal to a natural person will be exempt from income tax and any TDS on this account will be done away with."

The government announced plans to establish a new National Institute of Design in East India through a challenge route, boosting the fast-growing design sector.

States will also be supported via challenge-based funding to create five university townships. These planned academic zones will host multiple colleges, skill centres, and residential facilities, creating integrated education ecosystems.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says,"...In FY2026-27, fiscal deficit is seen at 4.4% of the GDP. The fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP in FY2027."

FM says govt has accepted recommendation of 16th Finance Commission to retain vertical share of devolution at 41%.

For the labour-intensive textile sector, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed an integrated programme with key components. The Minister emphasised that the first pillar of her plan, the National Fibre Scheme, aims to "achieve self-reliance in natural fibres like silk, wool, and jute, as well as man-made and new industrial-age fibres."

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday asserted that the government focuses on bringing reforms in the textile industry sector and announced the launch of 'Mahatma Gandhi Handloom Scheme'. 

Sitharaman, who was speaking while presenting the Union Budget 2026-27, mentioned that the main purpose of 'Mahatma Gandhi Handloom Scheme' is to strengthen the khadi, handloom, and handicraft sectors. 

"I propose to set up mega textile parks in challenge mode. I propose to launch the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj initiative to strengthen Khadi and handloom," Sitharaman said.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said existing institutions for allied health professionals will be upgraded, with new AHP institutes to be set up in both government and private sectors to strengthen geriatric and allied care systems.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of the Khelo India Mission. The Budget also proposes developing 15 archaeological sites, including Sarnath and Hastinapur, and setting up a Digital Knowledge Grid to document places of significance and create local jobs.

Foreign individuals will now be permitted to invest directly in Indian equities through the Portfolio Investment Scheme. The individual investment limit has been raised from 5% to 10%, while the aggregate cap has been increased from 10% to 24%, enabling foreign investors to take larger, long-term stakes in Indian companies and strengthen capital formation.

Proposing a dedicated initiative for Sports Goods, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the move will support manufacturing, research, and equipment design in the sector.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening domestic production and boosting India’s presence in the global sports goods market.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed setting up a high-level committee on banking for Viksit Bharat to carry out a comprehensive review of the banking sector.

The Budget also outlines a proposal to restructure Power Finance Corporation and REC Limited, two major state-owned NBFCs under the Ministry of Power.

The government has announced plans to operationalise 20 new National Waterways over the next five years, aimed at strengthening inland water transport and improving logistics efficiency.

Speaking on rejuvenating legacy industrial sectors, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new scheme to revive 200 legacy industrial clusters.

The initiative aims to improve cost competitiveness, efficiency, and productivity, giving a fresh boost to traditional and established industrial hubs across the country.

Sitharaman proposes to set a high-powered education to employment and enterprise innovation standing committee to recommend measure that focus on services sector.
 

Sitharaman Budget Speech LIVE: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposed One girls hostel in every district. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says,"...I propose multiple steps towards setting up new institutes, University townships, girls hostel and telescope infrastructure facilities in investment in higher education sector. Agirls hosel will be built in every district of the country."
 

Budget LIVE: The government has announced plans to develop seven high-speed rail corridors between major cities, positioning them as key growth connectors. 

The proposed corridors include Mumbai–Pune, Hyderabad–Pune, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, and Varanasi–Siliguri, aimed at improving connectivity, reducing travel time, and supporting economic expansion.

Budget LIVE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says "To promote environmentally sustainable movement of cargo, I propose to establish new dedicated freight corridors connecting Dankuni in the east to Surat in the west, operational 20 new waterways over the next 5 years, starting with national waterways 5 in Odisha to connect mineral-rich areas of Talcher and Angul and industrial centres like Kalinganagar to the ports of Paradip and Damra. A ship repair ecosystem, catering to inland waterways, will also be set up at Varanasi and Patna..."

Budget LIVE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed to support mineral rich states such as Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to establish dedicated rare earth corridors. A scheme for rare earth permanent magnets was launched in 2025 November.

"We now propose to support the mineral-rich states of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to establish dedicated rare earth corridors," announced Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting Union Budget for 2026-27.
 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced an increase of about 9 per cent in capital expenditure for the coming financial year, raising the allocation to Rs 12.2 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2026-27.

Sitharaman Budget Speech: Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman says Rs 10,000 crore SME growth fund to create champions among MSMEs. FM proposes a three-pronged approach to help MSMEs grow – equity support via MSME growth fund FM also proposes to top up self-reliant Indian Fund with Rs 2,000 crore

Capital expenditure has been increased to ₹12.2 lakh crore for FY27, announced Sitharaman. “We shall continue to focus on developing infrastructure in cities with over 5 lakh population, that is tier 2, tier 3 cities, which have expanded to become growth centers. Public capital expenditure has increased manifold from Rs 2 lakh crore in 2014-15 to an all-occupation of Rs 11.2 lakh crore in BE 25-26. In this coming year, that is, financial year 2026-27, I propose to increase it to Rs 12.2 lakh crores to continue the momentum,” announced the Finance Minister.

Budget LIVE: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget in Parliament on Sunday, said the government has proposed targeted interventions in six areas to accelerate and sustain economic growth. 

In her budget speech, the Finance Minister said the government remains committed to continuing reforms and ensuring steady momentum in economic policymaking. 

"The reform express is running on its way and will maintain its momentum to help us fulfill our Kartavya," Sitharaman said while outlining the government's approach.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.

- Focus on industry-led research
- Setting up training centres for semiconductors
- Aim: Strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem and talent pipeline.

Sitharaman Budget Speech: The BioPharma Strategy for Health Advancement through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation will strengthen India’s digital ecosystem in healthcare, said Sitharaman while delivering the Budget.

- Biopharma Shakti proposed with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years
- Aim: To develop India as a global bio-pharma hub
- Focus on research, innovation, and manufacturing capacity

FM Nirmala Sitharaman says electronic Components Manufacturing Scheme outlay increased to Rs 40,000 crore Rare earth permanent scheme, Tamil Nadu to be supported for rare earth corridor among other states: FM Propose to support Orissa Kerala Andhra Tamil Nadu to establish critical mineral corridors

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday rose in the Lok Sabha to present the Union Budget 2026-27 in Lok Sabha. She proposed 10,000 crore for bio pharma manufacturing sector.

Speaking in the House the FM said, "Since we assumed office 12 years ago. India's economic trajectory has been marked by stability. This government led by PM Modi has chosen action over ambivalance, reform over rhetoric. We have pursued far-reaching structural reforms, fiscal prudence and monetary stability, while maintaining a strong thrust on public investment."
 

Budget 2026: “Today, we face an external environment in which trade and multilateralism are imperiled. And access to resources and supply chains are disrupted. New technologies are transforming production systems while sharply increasing demand on water, energy and critical minerals. India will continue to take confident steps towards Vikasit Bharat by balancing ambition with inclusion,” said FM.
 

• Sustainable economic growth
• Resiliance towards global dynamics
• Prosperity of people 

Sitharaman Budget Speech: Sitharaman says since assuming power, the govt has chosen reforms over rhetoric
 

Sitharaman Budget Speech: Saying that the government has kept Atmanirbharta as a north star, has resulted a high growth rate of 7%. 

She notes that today’s external environment is such that trade and multilateralism are imperative and access to resources and supply chains are disrupted. “India must remain deeply integrated with the global markets, exporting more and attracting stable long-term investments.”

Budget LIVE: Presenting the Budget for the ninth time, Finance Minister Sitharaman says that since the Modi Government assumed office, the economy has been marked by a state of stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation.
 

Union Budget 2026: FM Sitharaman Begins Her Record 9th Budget Speech
 

Budget 2026: The Union cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday approved the Union Budget 2026-27. This is the third budget of the BJP-led NDA government in its third term in office.

Budget LIVE: Ahead of the presentation of the 2026 Budget on Sunday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "It will be a historic budget. The PM's 'Reform Express' will move forward speedily towards Viksit Bharat." 

Budget LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at Parliament to chair a crucial Cabinet meeting. 

This session, which began at 10:00 AM, serves as the final formal hurdle where the Union Cabinet reviews and officially approves the Budget documents. 

Following this green light, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will head to the Lok Sabha to deliver her record-breaking 9th consecutive Budget speech at 11:00 AM, making history as the first minister to present the national accounts on a Sunday.

Union Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman opted for a handwoven Kanjeevaram silk sari, honouring Tamil Nadu’s age-old weaving legacy, for her record ninth Union Budget speech on Sunday. 

The saree is purple-coloured Kattam Kanjeevaram, with light golden brown checks, known in Tamil as ‘kattam‘, and a coffee brown border with thread work. Notably, Tamil Nadu will vote in Assembly elections this year.

Budget LIVE: President Murmu offers 'dahi-cheeni' to FM Nirmala Sitharaman before presenting Budget 2026.

India Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, joined by MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, has arrived at Parliament to present the Union Budget 2026-27. Carrying the digital 'Bahi-Khata', she is set to deliver her record 9th consecutive budget speech at 11:00 AM, marking the first time in India's history that the budget is presented on a Sunday.

Union Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman reached Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Droupadi Murmu ahead of Union Budget 2026 presentation on Sunday. Apart from Sitharaman, other key members of the Budget team are also present at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Meanwhile, the Sensex and Nifty are trading largely flat, while MCX stocks have slipped 10–14%.

Union Budget 2026-27: Domestic stock markets opened largely flat on Sunday during a special budget session, as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her ninth consecutive Union Budget at 11 am.

The Nifty 50 index opened at 25,333.75, registering a marginal gain of 13.10 points or 0.05 per cent, while the BSE Sensex opened at 82,445.97, up by 176.19 points or 0.21 per cent.

This marks only the second time in the history of Indian stock markets that trading is taking place on a weekend for a special budget session. 

Budget 2026 focus: The Centre is expected to fast-track regulatory reforms by easing compliance to support the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Economists see GDP growth at 6.5–7% in FY27, with inflation near RBI’s 4% target, while the Economic Survey projects growth of 6.8–7.2% in FY27 after 7.4% in FY26.

India Union Budget 2026: India’s fiscal math faces pressure as GST and income tax relief measures rolled out last year to counter higher US tariffs have dented revenue inflows. 

Net tax collections for FY26 are estimated at ₹28.3 lakh crore. To bridge the gap, the government is banking on ₹50,000 crore from divestments and a potentially large RBI dividend of up to ₹3 lakh crore. 

However, meeting Budget projections will require a sharp acceleration in tax receipts during the final four months of the fiscal year, noted DBS Bank’s Radhika Rao. Any revenue shortfall is expected to be addressed through prudent spending adjustments, without straying from the 4.4% fiscal deficit target. 

India Budget 2026: Arnab is joined by legendary Mohandas Pai, Aarin Capital Chairman and Sarvam AI Pratyush Kumar as Republic gears up to bring you Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s #Budget2026 speech with real-time LIVE translation in Hindi and Kannada.

Union Budget 2026-27: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman left from Kartavya Bhavan for Rashtrapati Bhavan carrying her trademark 'bahi-khata', a tablet wrapped in a red-coloured cloth bearing a golden-coloured national emblem on it.

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Economic Advisor Dr V Anantha Nageswaran, Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Ravi Agrawal and other officials of the Finance Ministry were seen accompanying the Finance Minister.

Union Finance Minister will present the Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha as part of the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.

Union Budget 2026: Watch Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with her team, with the Budget tablet outside the Ministry of Finance.  

Budget 2026: Union Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said, "Over the past 11 years, the Budgets presented under the leadership of the Prime Minister have reflected the aspirations of the people and have been aimed at taking the country forward. The Budget being presented today is aligned with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047."

Budget Live: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the 13th Union Budget of the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on Sunday, as passengers at New Delhi Railway Station voiced their expectations from the upcoming budget. 

One passenger said he had high hopes for the Budget,  praising last year's exercise in which income tax slabs were revised. He said the Budget holds added significance amid the changing global order, as India is emerging as a soft power and strengthening its international relations. 

Another passenger, Shiv Mangal Rahi, a private-sector IT employee, said he hoped for further tax relief and improvements under the new tax regime.

India Budget 2026: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and MoS Pankan Chaudhari arrived at the Kartavya Bhawan on Sunday ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.

Union Budget 2026: Republic Media Network in collaboration with Sarvam AI  is all set deliver Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget2026 speech with real-time LIVE translation in Hindi and Kannada.

Union Budget 2026: In a historic market reversal, gold prices plummeted over 12% to slip below the $5,000 threshold, marking their steepest daily decline since the early 1980s. Silver suffered an even more dramatic crash, diving more than 36% in a record-breaking intraday sell-off that rattled the broader metals sector. 

This massive retreat was sparked by a strengthening U.S. dollar following Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair, a move that calmed fears regarding central bank independence and triggered a global exit from safe-haven assets.

Union Budget 2026: Ex-Sherpa G20 and Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant says, ‘Historic day as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will read out the 9th consecutive Budget’.

Union Budget 2026: Market expert Ajay Bagga said “Good work has happened over the last 11 years. We are expecting that continuity. Also expecting a broad vision in the Part B of Budget statement for the next quarter of the this century towards Viksit Bharat.”

Union Budget 2026: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to present a Rs 54.1 lakh crore Union Budget for FY2026-27, registering a year-on-year growth of 7.9 per cent, according to a report by Sunidhi Securities & Finance Limited.

The report highlighted that the size of the Union Budget, measured by Total Expenditure (TE) as a percentage of GDP, is the clearest indicator of the government's fiscal intent.

Union Budget 2026: The Budget 2026 speech, a key event in the South Asian nation's economic calendar, drawing attention from  industry stakeholders and stock market exchanges can be viewed in the LINK below.

Union Budget 2026: Indian shares are set to open higher in a special trading session ahead of the federal budget on Sunday as investors look for cues on support for growth from government capital spending and relief for export-oriented sectors hit by U.S. tariffs.

GIFT Nifty futures closed at 25,443 on Friday, indicating the NSE Nifty 50 (.NSEI), opens new tab will likely open above its previous close of 25,320.65.
 

Union Budget 2026: As India heads into the Union Budget 2026–27, expectations of sweeping personal income tax changes appear muted, with experts pointing out that the middle class has already received substantial relief in recent years.

According to Chirag Chauhan, CA & Founder, C A Chauhan & Co., recent policy changes have significantly eased the tax burden on salaried taxpayers.

“With rebate and standard deduction, income up to Rs 12.75 lakh is effectively tax-free for salaried individuals,” Chauhan said, noting that Budget 2025 had already expanded exemptions and boosted disposable incomes.

Read Full Article Here
 

Union Budget 2026: In the Union Budget 2025, the government allocated Rs 1.28 lakh crore to the education sector, reflecting a 6.22 per cent increase over the previous year. 

Vishal Anand, Founder and Pro Chancellor of Shoolini University, emphasised the need for sustained investment and global alignment in higher education to meet national aspirations.

“The vision of NEP 2020 and Viksit Bharat rests on scale, quality, and global relevance in higher education,” Anand said.

Read Full Article Here
 

Union Budget 2026: India's Union Budgets over the last seven years (presented from 2019 to 2025 for fiscal years 2019-20 to 2025-26) have focused on economic recovery, fiscal consolidation, infrastructure development, tax reforms, and social welfare. 

Read Full Article

Under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (from 2019), these budgets emphasized structural reforms, such as boosting capital expenditure, reducing fiscal deficits, and promoting initiatives like Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat. Key themes include post-pandemic stimulus, agricultural support, MSME empowerment, and sustainable growth.

Union Budget 2026:  Government health expenditure remains below 2% of GDP, compared with the 2.5% target set under the National Health Policy, while out-of-pocket spending continues to account for over 45% of total healthcare costs, among the highest globally.

Read Full Article Here
 

Union Budget 2026: With personal income tax reforms largely addressed in recent budgets and capital expenditure already at elevated levels, manufacturing is increasingly being seen as the next frontier for policy action.

Industry leaders argue that the focus must now move beyond capacity creation to technology depth, export competitiveness, logistics efficiency, and value-chain integration, especially as India positions itself as a global manufacturing alternative amid supply-chain realignments.

Read Full Article Here
 

Union Budget 2026: Once the Finance Minister's speech concludes, the full Budget documents, including detailed financial statements and policy proposals, will be published on official portals. The parliament will also table linked documents in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha once the speech is over. 

Union Budget 2026: While "sin" goods like cigarettes and imported luxuries may feel the pinch of higher taxes, essential tech and green investments could become more affordable. 

Analysts expect the Finance Minister to lower customs duties on critical components for mobile phones, EV batteries, and solar panels to boost the "Make in India" engine, whereas traditional revenue targets like tobacco and high-end imported electronics are set to become costlier. 

For many, the biggest "saving" won't be on a store shelf but in their paycheck, as the anticipated hike in the standard deduction and potential rationalization of gold duties could leave more disposable income for the average household.

Read LIVE Blog Here

 

Union Budget 2026: Economists expect the budget to focus on cutting government debt to a range of 49% to 51% of gross domestic product, a metric closely watched by global investors, by 2031 from 56%. 

The Defence Ministry wants a 20% increase in military spending after a short but deadly conflict with arch rival Pakistan.

Read Full Article Here

Union Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman to present a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for the year 2026-27.

Union Budget 2026: All budget-related documents are traditionally printed at a dedicated press within north block, a practice that began in 1980. 

Union Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to overhaul the traditional structure of the Budget speech today. Since Independence, the Budget has been strictly divided into two halves: Part A, which focuses on the economic review and major policy announcements, and Part B, which has historically been a technical segment reserved for specific tax proposals and customs duty changes.

Today, however, the FM is set to flip this narrative by elevating Part B to the center stage. Instead of a brief technical update, Part B is expected to serve as the primary platform for the government’s "Reform Express"—a comprehensive roadmap for India’s long-term economic vision.

Union Budget 2026: The technology sector is looking for stronger policy backing for AI, along with support for collaboration and adoption across industries. 

Union Budget 2026: MSMEs are looking for targeted manufacturing support, better credit access, and measures to handle global trade uncertainties. Prabodh Mohanty, President of the Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has expressed optimism about stronger support for the MSME sector in the upcoming Union Budget.

He also called for rationalisation of mining laws and taxes and urged the Centre to take proactive steps to deregulate sectors, particularly MSMEs.
 

Union Budget 2026: India’s real estate sector is pushing for major structural reforms in Budget 2026, including ‘industry’ status, a simplified single-window clearance system, and faster digitisation of land records. On the infrastructure side, leaders are urging a sharp rise in capital expenditure to drive growth, employment and competitiveness.

Union Budget 2026: Economists are weighing in on the government's priorities and potential announcements. Osmania University Professor Satish Raikindi also shared his expectations. While speaking to ANI, Raikindi stated that the government of India is likely to prioritise job creation, agricultural development, inclusive manufacturing, and digital transformation. 

These sectors are expected to drive sustainable growth and development across the country.operational.

Read full article here
 

Union Budget 2026:  Indian stock markets will remain open for trading on Sunday, February 1, as the government will be presenting the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament. 

Both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) will conduct a live trading session and will operate according to standard market timings. Along with the NSE and BSE, commodity trading will also continue on February 1, 2026, with both MCX and NCDEX remaining operational.

Read Full article here
 

Union Budget 2026: The government is likely to focus on changes under the new tax regime, including possible slab restructuring, higher exemption limits, and rationalisation of rebates. Any move to ease the tax burden could impact consumption trends and overall economic sentiment. At the same time, the Centre faces the challenge of balancing taxpayer relief with fiscal consolidation.

Read LIVE blog here

• Taxpayer Relief: The "big ask" is an increase in the Standard Deduction from ₹75,000 to ₹1,00,000 for salaried employees. There is also buzz about a potential joint taxation framework for married couples to simplify filings. 
• The "Capex" Engine: Expect the government to maintain its aggressive infrastructure push with a projected 10–15% hike in Capital Expenditure, potentially reaching a record ₹12.5 lakh crore to fuel roads, railways, and urban projects. 
• Manufacturing & AI: With global trade shifts, look for expanded PLI (Production Linked Incentive) schemes and new tax sops for AI, Robotics, and Semiconductors as India aims to become the world’s "intelligence-first" factory. 
• Green Energy & EVs: Industry experts anticipate an extension of the PM E-DRIVE scheme (formerly FAME) and a push for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to help India hit its 500 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2030. 
• Rural & Agri-Reboot: To boost cooling domestic consumption, the Budget may increase the PM-Kisan payout and launch a National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds to protect farmers from climate risks. 
• Fiscal Tightrope: Finance Minister Sitharaman is expected to target a fiscal deficit of 4.4% of GDP, signaling to global investors that India remains committed to fiscal discipline despite the push for growth.

India's Union Budget is tabled on February 1 each year to ensure timely parliamentary approval and smooth implementation at the start of the fiscal year on April 1. However, this was not always the case. During the British Raj, the Budget was presented on the last working day of February. 

However, this led to late approval of the schemes and the policies announced in the Budget before the starting of the financial year on April 1. Different departments of the governments and businesses had very less time to make plans or adjust to the new policies announced in the Budget.

Read full article

Union Budget 2026: The Budget speech will be broadcast live on Republic TV and all other news channels. You can also catch all the updates about Budget 2026 on www.republicworld.com. 

Republic TV will provide detailed live blog updates on the Budget speech, and political, industry, and market reactions.

The Budget speech will also be aired live on Sansad TV, the channel dedicated to parliamentary proceedings, and also on Doordarshan’s news channel, DD News. Additionally, Sansad TV will stream the speech live on its YouTube channel.

Union Budget 2026: In addition to her record for consistency, Nirmala Sitharaman also holds the distinction of delivering the longest Budget speech in Indian history. On February 1, 2020, her presentation clocked in at a marathon 2 hours and 40 minutes (roughly 160 minutes). 

Interestingly, this marathon 2020 performance broke her own previous record of 2 hours and 17 minutes from the year prior. While she holds the title for the longest duration, the record for the highest word count still belongs to Manmohan Singh, whose landmark 18,650-word speech in 1991 fundamentally reshaped the Indian economy.

Union Budget 2026: The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday in the Lok Sabha, expects the Indian economy to grow in the range of 6.8-7.2 per cent in the next financial year 2026-27.

Union Budget 2026: This year's "Budget war room" is led by Anuradha Thakur, the Economic Affairs Secretary and the primary architect of the fiscal document, who also holds the distinction of being the first woman to head her department. Working alongside her is Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava, who oversees the high-stakes tax proposals and customs duty reforms, and Expenditure Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam, often called the "guardian of the purse" for his role in enforcing fiscal discipline.

The team is rounded out by Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju, who manages the health of public sector banks and insurance, and DIPAM Secretary Arunish Chawla, tasked with driving the government's ambitious disinvestment and privatization roadmap. Supporting the strategic capital plans of state-owned firms is Public Enterprises Secretary K Moses Chalai, while Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran provides the vital macroeconomic foundation through his growth forecasts and risk assessments. Together, these officials have meticulously crafted the roadmap that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present today, balancing the country's domestic growth needs with a complex global economic environment.

Union Budget 2026: While Nirmala Sitharaman is setting a landmark for consistency, the ultimate record for the most Union Budgets ever presented is still held by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai. During his tenure as Finance Minister between 1959 and 1969, Desai tabled a total of 10 budgets, a feat that included eight full budgets and two interim ones. 

Interestingly, Desai remains the only Finance Minister in history to have presented a budget on his own birthday, which happened twice on the leap day of February 29th in 1964 and 1968. By presenting her ninth budget today, Sitharaman moves into second place alongside P. Chidambaram, but she stands alone in history as the only minister to have delivered all nine in a single, unbroken consecutive streak.

Union Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman will cement her legacy as the first female Finance Minister to deliver nine consecutive Union Budgets. This historic presentation arrives at a time of heightened scrutiny, as industry captains look for decisive policy interventions to counteract global instability and a cooling in private capital expenditure. 

The pressure is on for the FM to deliver a roadmap that not only maintains India’s economic momentum but also provides the stability needed to reignite large-scale corporate investment.

Union Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is poised to make history in Parliament today as she delivers her ninth consecutive Union Budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. This milestone presentation not only cements her record-breaking tenure but also marks India’s 88th Union Budget since Independence, highlighting a pivotal moment for the nation's economic trajectory.