For the first time ever, direct investments in stocks, perceived a high-risk asset class, will get tax exemption. Under the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme, the government proposes to allow tax deduction in equity. Individuals with annual income of up to Rs 10,00,000 will be eligible for the scheme &mdash; where investment of up to Rs 50,000, with a minimum lock-in period of three years, gets 50 per cent tax exemption. Depending on income, the move can lead to a saving of up to Rs 5,000. For example, if your taxable income is Rs 10,00,000 and you invest Rs 50, 000 in stock markets, under this scheme, Rs 25,000 will be eligible for tax exemption.

A big sop for small investors

Business Standard

The marks the FM is getting on this budget sure wouldn&rsquo;t get him admission into Shri Ram College of Commerce. He&rsquo;s averaging six or seven out of 10, as far as I can tell. Some nice things seem to have been done to encourage the small investor. Farmers benefit and so does infrastructure.

My Budget: Anuja Chauhan

The Budget seems to be a non-event, with no clear road map for several key reform-related matters like DTC, GST, subsidy reduction on petroleum goods, etc. The finance minister has emphasised the importance of capital markets. To deepen participation of equity markets, a new equity investment scheme (Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme) is proposed for retail investors.

QFIs' entry to deepen bond markets: Atul Singh

Ernst &amp; Young analyses the impact of Budget 2012-13 on BS 200 companies (Click hre for detailed story)

Gainers and losers

Steel makers' long-pending demand to give them a level-playing field vis-a-vis imports gets rewarded in the Budget with the Finance Minister raising import duty to 7.5% from 5% earlier.

Steel industry's demand for level-playing field met

Press Trust of India

Private power companies are bullish on tapping more foreign currency loans now, as the withholding tax on such debt has been reduced from 20% to 5%.

Pvt power firms look to tap ECB route for resources

&quot;The reduction in withholding tax from 20% to 5% on ECB related payments will help ports raise low-cost foreign debt,&quot; said Deloitte India senior director Hemant Bhattbhatt.

Budget aims to give a boost to port development

Metered taxis, entry to amusement facilities, second-class rail travel, and betting, gambling and lottery will not attract the 12% Service Tax, as per the budget proposal.

No service tax on Metro, taxi, 2nd class rail travel

Apprehending &quot;uncertainty&quot; in implementation of key reforms such as Goods and Services Tax and Direct Tax Codes by the government, global rating agencies have said the budgetary proposals fail to give a timeline on the same.

Timing of GST, DTC implementation uncertain: S&P

Bullion and jewellery traders in several parts of the country, including Delhi and Mumbai today downed shutters for three days in protest against the Budget proposal to raise duty on gold imports and levying excise on unbranded jewellery.

Bullion mkts protest duty hike, to be shut for 3 days

Seeking to address the coal shortage affecting the power and steel sectors, government has announced a slew of measures for enhancing its availability in the Budget, a development welcomed by Coal India Ltd.

More coal imports likely following duty reduction

Most brokerage houses believe the fiscal deficit target of 5.1% for FY13 is too optimistic. For some, it is a &quot;pragmatic&quot; Budget given the political compulsions of Congress-led ruling alliance, while others believe that it is a missed opportunity.

Brokerages see Budget as pragmatic but timid

The budget proposals have met with mixed response with some analysts terming it as realistic and positive for capital markets and others expressing concerns over lack of fiscal consolidation roadmap.

Budget evokes mixed response from market analysts

Education is a subject of national importance and the FM has presented a very balanced budget on education. While the focus has been on infrastructure and rural development, education has also retained its importance. Union Budget 2012 supported industry&rsquo;s long time demand to improve the provision and standards of education in the country.

Educationists laud the 'balanced' Budget

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's Budget proposal to raise excess revenue from indirect taxes rather than touching the direct taxes is a smart move, as it does not require a Parliamentary approval, the Reserve Bank has said.

Gokarn says hiking indirect taxes a smart move

Retail and consumer products are likely to be dearer due to the hike in indirect taxes, industry players said today.

Retailers, consumer goods industry say price hike imminent

The government on Saturday said it has not come out with any Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS) by proposing changes in the Income Tax Act, which experts believe are some sort of concessions to tap black money.

No relaxation in voluntary disclosure scheme: FinMin

Unfazed at the flak received for its proposal to amend Income Tax (I-T) Act with retrospective effect of 1962 to bring Vodafone-Hutchison deal among other transactions under the tax net, the finance ministry on Saturday said if India will be willing to let go its taxing right only because the investor chooses to create multiple structures to hide the real transaction.

'Corporates hide behind multi-layered structures'

Your plans to bring home a dream vehicle may just have become a little more distant, with automobile manufacturers considering price increases to offset the impact of higher excise duty levied in the Union Budget tabled on Friday.

Higher excise duty may put brakes on car buy plans

Even as automobile manufacturers are considering increasing the prices of the their products, an increase in auto fuel prices is also imminent. Oil marketing companies &mdash; Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation &mdash; say prices of motor spirit or petrol may be increased in April itself. There was a strong case to increase the diesel price, too, though that would depend on a green signal from the political quarters.

Petrol price increase likely in April decision on diesel soon

The increase in crude oil cess will increase the burden of oil producing companies by over Rs 6,000 crore annually. Being the largest producer of crude oil and gas, the government-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will take the biggest hit of around Rs 4,600 crore, followed by Cairn India (Rs 1,200-1,300 crore) and Oil India (around Rs 800 crore).

Oil producing firms to take a Rs 6,000-cr hit due to cess hike

Budget 2026 News: Get latest news and headlines on India budget 2026. Explore more news on railway budget, healthcare budget, defense budget along with latest income tax slab rates on Business Standard.

Budget News: Latest Union Budget 2026-27 News, Budget Headlines Updates | Business Standard

Get latest news and headlines on India budget 2026. Explore more news on railway budget, healthcare budget, defense budget along with latest income tax slab rates on Business Standard.

Page 515 - Budget 2026 News