Page 22 - Budget 2026

Manufacturing is macroeconomic insurance, not nostalgia: Economic Survey

Economic Survey 2026 says that in a fragmented global economy, manufacturing is closely tied to external and currency stability, warning that services alone cannot offset rising global pressures

Cost cuts, distribution reforms key to tapping 'missing middle': Eco Survey

High acquisition and distribution costs are hurting insurance affordability, limiting reach to the 'missing middle' and keeping penetration stuck despite rising insurance density

'India is an oasis of macro stability in a turbulent world': CEA Nageswaran

India remains economically stable despite global uncertainty, with strong growth, low inflation and rising forex reserves, CEA Anantha Nageswaran said after the Economic Survey was tabled

Eco Survey flags need for multi-pronged push to sustain FDI inflows

The Economic Survey on Thursday called for a multi-pronged strategy to strengthen the country's investment climate by addressing both structural and cyclical factors, noting that the key challenge going forward is sustaining FDI inflows amid heightened global volatility. It said that the window for action is still open, but it will not remain so indefinitely. There is a need to move decisively to transform the FDI challenge into the next chapter of the economic growth story, it said. Despite a clear government intent and proven economic management, FDI inflows remain below their potential, especially for infrastructure needs. "Proactive reforms are essential to attract more foreign investment," it said adding this approach involves developing a targeted strategy that identifies a specific set of GVC (global value chain) anchors and establishes a state apparatus that collaborates directly with them as partners. The direct engagement will help resolve cross-agency issues and provide

Economic Survey outlines roadmap to reduce structural uncertainty in PPPs

India's public-private partnership (PPP) framework needs to move from transaction-centric execution toward system-level market building, with a sharper focus on reducing structural uncertainty, the Economic Survey 2025-26 suggested on Thursday. The pre-Budget document tabled in Parliament further said that this requires clearer sectoral pipelines with multi-year visibility, a tighter linkage between national programmes and bankable project preparation, as well as disciplined pre-construction risk closure by the public authority. The Survey noted that PPP outcomes have been weakest where land acquisition, statutory clearances, demand assessment, or utility shifting have remained unresolved. In the coming decade, it said a credible PPP regime will be defined less by risk transfer on paper and more by the State's capacity to absorb early-stage risks that private capital cannot efficiently price. "Accordingly, India's PPP framework needs to move from transaction-centric execution towar

Ban advertising of ultra-processed foods from 6 am-11 pm: Eco Survey

Raising concerns on the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods containing high fat, salt and sugar amid India becoming one of the fastest growing markets for such items in the world, the Economic Survey has pitched for a ban on their advertisements from morning to late night. The pre-Budget document tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday also suggested restrictions on the marketing of infant and toddler milk and beverages, while flagging growing obesity among children. "More troubling still, the prevalence of excess weight among children under five has risen from 2.1 per cent in 2015-16 to 3.4 per cent in 2019-21," it said. According to estimates, over 3.3 crore children in India were obese in 2020, and it is projected to reach 8.3 crore children by 2035. The 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reports that 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are overweight or obese," it added. Among women aged 15-49 years, 6.4 per cent are obese, and among men, 4

Pharma sector a model for India Inc amid global tariff flux: Eco Survey

India Inc can draw inspiration from the domestic pharma industry, which transformed itself in the aftermath of the TRIPS Agreement in 1995, to deal with an unpredictable global tariff regime, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26. The pharmaceutical sector, which had expanded under the process-patent regime of the 1970 Patent Act, faced a sudden change in its operating environment when the TRIPS-compliant product-patent regime took effect in 1995. This shift challenged the very foundation of India's competitive advantage, reverse engineering, and cost-efficient process innovation. However, the manner in which the sector responded offers a compelling template for industries currently confronting rising external trade barriers, especially tariff escalations in major markets, the Economic Survey stated. The new regime enabled Indian firms to legally replicate patented drugs by developing alternative production pathways, thereby creating one of the most affordable pharmaceutical ...

The Economic Survey's global outlook: A world that has structurally changed

Economic Survey 2026 says India is better placed than many economies due to strong macro fundamentals, but warns these buffers will not fully insulate it from global volatility

MGNREGA overhauled as overall architecture had reached limits: Eco Survey

Reassessment needed in light of evolving rural realities; MGNREGS structural weakness limited its effectiveness, says Survey

Eco Survey highlights: Domestic demand in focus amid global uncertainties

India's economy is expected to grow 6.8-7.2% in 2026-27; exports, domestic demand and reforms support growth, while global trade tensions pose some risks

India on a strong plank to show sustained growth in uncertain times

On the whole, the Survey paints a positive picture for the economy as well as outlook, though cautions more on the external environment

Pension reforms must revamp key schemes to widen coverage: Report

SBI Research report urges mandatory contributions by large private firms, tax parity and the integration of the Unified Pension Scheme to secure a rapidly ageing workforce

Economic Survey pegs India's real GDP growth at 6.8-7.2 per cent in FY27

India's economy is expected to grow 6.8-7.2% in 2026-27; exports, domestic demand and reforms support growth, while global trade tensions pose some risks

Hypocrisy-laden message: Cong slams PM's remarks ahead of Budget session

The Congress on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on the Budget session, saying he delivers his "usual hypocrisy-laden message to the nation" before the beginning of each session and "today's performance is part of this series". Congress general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh said, "He (PM) will not convene and chair all-party meetings to take the opposition into confidence on national issues." He will suddenly have Bills introduced at the last minute and bulldozed through Parliament without the necessary legislative scrutiny, Ramesh claimed, adding that Modi would not sit in Parliament and respond to the concerns of opposition leaders, and will instead make election rally speeches in both Houses. "Before the beginning of each session, he will give his usual hypocrisy-laden 'desh ke naam sandesh' with Parliament as his backdrop. Today's performance is part of this series," the senior Congress leader said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday

Budget Session 2026: 'Reform, perform, transform' guides govt, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government is focused on reform, performance and transformation as Parliament's Budget Session begins, stressing long-term solutions and growth for India

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to table Economic Survey in LS today

In addition, a statement reviewing the working of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India, New Delhi, for the year 2024-25 will be presented before the House

Union Budget 2026 to be presented on Feb 1: When and where to watch Live

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament on February 1. Here's the time, venue and how to watch the Budget speech live

Union Budget 2026-27: The next phase of India's technology growth

Focused execution and policy coherence can help position India as a tech powerhouse

Budget 2026-27: Recalibrating the tax framework for sovereign wealth funds

India's masterstroke was the red carpet rollout for sovereign wealth funds in 2020 with an exemption for income from investments in specified Infrastructure

Consumers view upcoming Budget 2026-27 with caution: Kantar Survey

Consumer optimism around India's long-term growth goals has softened ahead of Budget 2026, with households prioritising tax relief, job security and financial stability, a Kantar survey shows