Budget And Economy

VB G RAM G gets Rs 95,692 crore in Fy-27; MGNREGA Rs 30,000 to clear pending dues and smoothen transition

On the SME fund, DEA Secy Anuradha Thakur says the ₹500-crore allocation signals commitment to a separate fund, clearly targeting SMEs distinctly from MSMEs

The government will target a ‌debt-to-GDP ratio of 55.6 per cent ​for 2026-27, resulting in a fiscal deficit of 4.3 per cent of GDP, Finance Minister Nirmala ‍Sitharaman said

Experts say announcements focus on sustenance of growth, resilience

And bigger problems await from policy bottlenecks that the Budget has left untouched

Despite new policy support and AI-led productivity tools, India's agriculture still faces structural challenges as its GVA share in GDP continues to fluctuate

Budget estimates project telecom sector revenues at ₹1.17 trillion in FY27, lower than revised FY26 levels, reflecting spectrum equity conversions and capped AGR payments despite expected auction and

From SME funding and services-led growth to tax tweaks and tourism, Nirmala Sitharaman's record ninth Budget signalled where public spending and policy are headed in FY27

The economy is seen growing at 7.4 per cent in ‌the current financial year, with ​inflation likely to be near 2 per cent

The Union Budget 2026-27 has allocated Rs 1,102 crore for expenses incurred by the Council of Ministers, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Prime Minister's Office, and for hospitality and entertainment of state guests. The amount is higher than the revised estimate of Rs 978.20 allocated in 2025-2026. In the Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on Sunday, Rs 620 crore has been allotted for the expenses of council of ministers in the coming fiscal. It was Rs 483.54 crore in 2025-25. The provision is for expenditure on salaries, sumptuary and other allowances and travel by cabinet ministers, ministers of state and ex-prime ministers. This also includes provision for Special Extra Session Flight Operations for VVIPs. The National Security Council Secretariat has been allocated Rs 256.19 crore for 2026-27, against Rs 279.74 crore for 2025-26. The provision is for meeting the administrative expenses and space programme of the National Security Council

The net borrowing will rise to ₹11.73 trillion next fiscal ​from ₹11.33 trillion for the current fiscal, according to the budget. India's fiscal year runs April through March

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said buyback proceeds for all types of shareholders will be taxed as capital gains. Presenting the Union Budget for 2026-27, Sitharaman also proposed to raise Securities Transaction Tax to 0.05 per cent on commodity futures from 0.02 per cent. She further said MAT (Minimum Alternate Tax ) will be made final tax and the rate will be reduced to 14 per cent from current 15 per cent. She also said the government has proposed a joint panel of Corporate Affairs Ministry and CBDT for incorporation of income computation and disclosure standards. National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will be established to digitally document all places of significance, she added.

The 15th Finance Commission recommended a share of states in the central taxes to be 41 per cent, and the 16th Finance Commission has retained the vertical share of devolution

FM Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget 2026 has proposed supporting Odisha, Kerala, Andhra and Tamil Nadu for dedicated rare-earth corridors for mining, research, and production of rare-earth magnets

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the target for capex will be raised to Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27 from Rs 11.2 lakh crore earmarked for the current fiscal year and announced a slew of measures to boost infrastructure in the country. Presenting the Union Budget for 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha, she said the government will continue to develop infrastructure in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The government also proposes to set up risk guarantee fund for infrastructure sector, she added. A scheme for enhancement for construction and infrastructure equipment will be introduced to strengthen domestic manufacturing, Sitharaman said. The government also proposes to support professional institutions like ICAI, ICSI to design short-term modular courses, she added.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her record 9th straight Budget, and all eyes will be on the much-awaited customs reforms. Sitharaman had, in her first Budget in 2019, replaced the leather briefcase -- which had been in use for decades for carrying Budget documents -- with a traditional 'bahi-khata' wrapped in red cloth. This year's budget will be in paperless form, as done in the last four years. Here are the key numbers to watch out for in the Union Budget for 2026-27: * Fiscal Deficit: The budgeted fiscal deficit, which is the difference between the government expenditure and income, for the current fiscal (April 2025 to March 2026 or FY26), is estimated at 4.4 per cent of GDP. Having achieved a fiscal consolidation roadmap with a deficit below 4.5 per cent of GDP in FY26, markets will keenly watch for direction on debt-to-GDP reduction in the FY27 Budget, as well as whether the government will provide a specific fiscal deficit number for the next financial year.

This Budget is expected to outline higher spending on roads, ports and railways to maintain demand, create jobs and insulate the world's fastest growing major economy from external headwinds

The government is likely to aim for a fiscal deficit at 4.2 per cent of GDP for 2026-27, down from 4.4 per cent this fiscal year

To boost private investment and demand, govt has rolled out reforms in recent months, including income tax cuts, labour law overhauls and steps to open the tightly controlled nuclear power sector

> Expects GDP to grow at 6.8-7.2% in FY27 amid macroeconomic stability > Says ₹ 'punching below its weight', geopolitics shaping capital flows