Page 16 - Budget 2026

Budget makes tax compliance easier, gives relief in penalties and timelines

Budget signals a shift toward a less adversarial tax regime by extending return-filing deadlines to March, halving the mandatory litigation deposit to 10%, and decriminalising minor procedural lapses

Centre to borrow record ₹17.2 trillion in FY27, bond supply tops estimates

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

Customs duty exemptions extended for lithium-ion cells, critical minerals

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced an extension of basic customs duty exemption on capital goods used for manufacturing lithium-ion cells for battery storage in the annual budget for the next financial year. In her budget speech, she also proposed to exclude the entire value of biogas while calculating excise duty levy on (biogas) blended CNG (compressed natural gas). "I propose to extend the basic customs duty exemption given to capital goods used for manufacturing lithium-ion cells for batteries. Also, I propose to exempt basic customs duty on import of sodium anti Monet, for use in manufacturing of solar glass," she said. It is proposed to provide basic customs duty exemption to the import of capital goods required for the processing of critical minerals in India. For biogas blended CNG, she said, "I propose to exclude the entire value of biogas while calculating the central excise duty payable on biogas blended CNG." She said that the government will devel

CIC, Public Enterprises Selection Board get ₹39.14 allocation in Budget

The Central Information Commission (CIC) and the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) have been allocated Rs 39.14 crore in the Union Budget 2026-27, a nominal increase of around Rs 3 crore from the revised estimate of Rs 36.94 crore for 2025-26. However, the Budget Estimate for the CIC and PESB in 2025-26 was higher at Rs 42.49 crore. According to the Budget documents presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the provision is meant for establishment-related expenditure of the Central Information Commission and the Public Enterprises Selection Board. In Budget parlance, the allocations made at the time of presentation of the annual Budget are known as Budget Estimates (BE), while the updated figures, reflecting changes in revenue and expenditure during the course of the financial year, are referred to as Revised Estimates (RE). The government has also earmarked Rs 3.5 crore for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for the propagation of the Right to Informat

India expects record ₹3.16 trn dividend from RBI, state-run firms in FY27

The funds would be crucial for the government to meet its spending needs while keeping the fiscal deficit within 4.3 per cent of gross domestic product

Budget places infra at heart of journey towards 'Viksit Bharat': Gadkari

Union Budget for 2026-27 places infrastructure at the heart of India's journey towards Viksit Bharat2047, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha. "With a clear focus on connectivity, manufacturing depth, and regional balance, the Budget outlines a decisive push to build world-class, future-ready infrastructure," Gadkari said in a social media post on X. He said initiatives announced in the Budget reflect a clear vision: infrastructure not just as physical assets, but as an enabler of resilience, opportunity, and global competitiveness. The minister also said the Budget for 2026-27 outlines a decisive roadmap centred on farmers, youth, and MSMEs, strengthening the foundations of inclusive growth, innovation, and capital investment as India progresses towards.

Budget 2026: Biopharma Shakti plan aims to make India a biologics hub

Union Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveils Biopharma Shakti, a ₹10,000 crore, five-year plan to boost domestic biologics, biosimilars, clinical trials and regulatory capacity

Budget 2026 lays roadmap for building developed India by 2047: Amit Shah

Shah said the Budget demonstrates that the vision of an "Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat" is not merely a slogan but a firm resolve of the government

Buyback proceeds for all shareholders to be taxed as capital gains: FM

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.

Budget 2026: Centre allocates ₹1.4 trillion to states, keeps 41% share

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

PSU banks reel after Budget 2026; shares fall up to 7%: Here's why

All the PSU Bank index constituents were trading lower, with Bank of India, Bank Maharashtra, Indian Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Union Bank of India falling in the range of 3 to 7 per cent

Budget 2026 aims to reduce fiscal deficit, boost capex and growth: PM Modi

PM Modi says Union Budget 2026 focuses on fiscal discipline, inflation control and high capital spending, while backing reforms, MSMEs and tourism to drive growth and achieving 'Viksit Bharat' goals

Nifty IT jumps 3.5% from day's low; TCS, Infy, Wipro shine on Budget boost

Budget 2026 has proposed a tax holiday till 2047 for IT companies providing cloud services using India-based data centres.

Shopping abroad or online? Budget 2026 cuts customs duty burden by half

How the customs duty cut will impact your overseas purchases

Anant Raj stock price soars 14% on heavy volumes in weak market; here's why

As India emerges as a global hub for data centre expansion, driven by rapid data consumption and adoption of cloud reforms, Anant Raj is well-positioned to capitalise on the emerging opportunities.

Sitharaman proposes Infra Risk Guarantee Fund to boost private investment

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitahraman on Sunday proposed to set up an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to provide calibrated partial credit guarantees to lenders. Sitharaman in her Budget speech said during this past decade, the government has undertaken several initiatives for large-scale enhancement of public infrastructure, including through new financing instruments such as Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InVITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and institutions like NIIF and NABFID. "To strengthen the confidence of private developers regarding risks during infrastructure development and construction phase, I propose to set up an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to provide prudently calibrated partial credit guarantees to lenders," she said. Noting that cities are India's engines of growth, innovation, and opportunities, she said the government will now focus on Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and even temple-towns, which need modern infrastructure and basic ...

No allocation for Chabahar project in Budget amid US' sanctions on Iran

In a departure from the past, India has not allocated any funds for the Chabahar port project in its Union Budget, a move that came against the backdrop of Washington's fresh sanctions on Iran. In the last few years, India has been making an annual outlay of Rs 100 crore to the mega connectivity project in the Sistan-Balochistan province in Iran's southern coast. India is a major partner in development of the Chabahar port. In September last year, the US imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran but had granted India a six-month exemption from the punitive measures on the Chabahar port project. The waiver will come to an end on April 26. Last month, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New India is engaged with the US on the issue related to the Chabahar port project. It is learnt that India was mulling various options relating to the project after Trump administration threatened a 25 per cent additional tariff on countries doing business with Tehran. T

Budget 2026 changes SGB tax rules, ends blanket capital gains exemption

When SGB capital gains will remain tax-free under new Budget rules

Budget 2026 brings tax relief, investment flexibility for overseas Indians

From lower TCS on foreign travel to easier equity access and property sale relief, Budget 2026 brings a clutch of changes for NRIs and overseas Indians

ITC, SBI Card, IEX: 20 of BSE 500 stocks hit 52-week lows post Budget 2026

ACC, IRCTC, IREDA, Akzo Nobel India, Emami, KPIT Technologies and Premier Energies also hit 52-week lows in the intraday trade on February 1