Page 23 - Budget 2026

Budget 2026 to incorporate recommendations of 16th Finance Commission

The forthcoming Budget would incorporate the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission which has already submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu. The Finance Commission, which has been set up under the Constitution, provides a formula for devolution of taxes between Centre and states. Cesses and surcharge levied by Centre are not part of the divisible pool. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body that gives suggestions on Centre-state financial relations and is set up periodically. The 16th Finance Commission, headed by former Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya, was set up on December 31, 2023. Led by Panagariya, Finance Commission members - Retired bureaucrat Annie George Mathew, economist Manoj Panda, SBI Group Chief Economic Advisor Soumya Kanti Ghosh and RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar - and Secretary to the Commission Ritvik Pandey submitted its report to Murmu on November 17, 2025. The Commission also presented a copy of the report to Prime

Budget 2026 to lift govt borrowing to record, testing bond yields

The rise, driven by large debt maturities of about ₹5.5 trillion, comes as heavy state government issuance pushes up yields

Datanomics: Parliament's Budget sessions see longer sittings, fewer Bills

Parliament's Budget Session begins as longer sittings contrast with limited debate on expenditure and fewer bills introduced and passed in recent years

Parliament's Budget session begins on Wednesday; pending Bills listed

Opposition parties demand discussion on SIR, MGNREGA

Sensex's worst 1-month pre-Budget run since 2016 signals weak optimism

Market watchers expect capital market reforms to reverse FPI flows

Budget 2026: Tax transition India needs to shift to residence-based regime

The Budget should consider moving to a residence-based tax regime, exempting foreign investors from long-term capital gains tax

Budget 2026 Outlook: How India's infra push may change in the next phase

As Budget 2026 approaches, policymakers and industry leaders weigh how India's infrastructure push may evolve - balancing capex momentum, fiscal discipline and private investment

Budget 2026 Outlook: Will India's debt-anchored fiscal reset make a mark?

The FY27 Union Budget will test India's shift to a debt-based fiscal framework as tax risks, Finance Commission changes, capex priorities and election pressures shape policy choices

Budget 2026 outlook: Key expectations for agriculture, rural sectors

With falling crop prices, slowing farm income growth and pressure on subsidies, the Union Budget for FY27 is expected to focus on agriculture reforms, rural spending and cooperatives

Stakeholders seek further tax reforms, higher standard deduction in Budget

With many income tax incentives already expired or approaching sunset, 34% of respondents said they expected the government to bring back a manufacturing-linked lower tax rate regime

Budget 2026: Why India’s bond market is bracing for a supply stress test

As the Union Budget approaches, India’s bond market is bracing for its biggest supply challenge yet.

Union Budget 2026: What homebuyers must watch closely in this budget | Budget 2026 expectations

Buying a home in India is getting harder, not easier. Prices are up, EMIs are stretched, and “affordable housing” often isn’t affordable anymore.

FM attends halwa ceremony, marking final stage of Budget preparation

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday participated in a traditional 'halwa' ceremony, marking the final stage for the preparation of the Union Budget 2026-27, to be unveiled on February 1 in the Lok Sabha. The ceremony took place at the North Block on Raisina Hill, the old address of the Finance Ministry, as the new premises at the Kartyava Bhawan-I do not have a printing press. The Finance Minister and most of her team were shifted from the iconic and majestic North Block to the modern central secretariat office housed in Kartavya Bhawan in September 2025. The ceremony is a customary ritual in which traditional dessert 'halwa' is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the finance ministry who are involved in the preparation of the budget. The 'Halwa ceremony' precedes the 'lock-in' of the officials involved in preparation of the Union Budget, an official statement said. Maintaining the tradition, it was organised in the basement of North Block, which was .

Congress hits out at govt over delay in sharing Budget session agenda

Congress on Tuesday flayed the government for "failing" to circulate its legislative agenda ahead of the Budget session of Parliament. Congress leader K Suresh told reporters that at the all-party meeting convened here, party leaders questioned lack of legislative agenda outlining the bills the government seeks to bring. However, Union ministers attending the meeting said the agenda will be circulated later. They told the meeting that the first part of the session will focus on debate on the Motion of Thanks and discussion on the Union Budget. While the first part of the session will begin on Wednesday with the address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the Union Budget will be presented on February 1, a Sunday. The first part of the session will continue till February 13 during which the Motion of Thanks will be discussed and passed. A discussion on the Union Budget will also be taken up. After a recess, the Houses will reconv

Markets await devil in the details in the India-EU FTA: Nilesh Shah, Kotak AMC

From a purely market standpoint, India-EU trade deal is a positive step and clearly in the right direction, Shah said

BEL, HAL, Bayer among top analyst bets ahead of Budget 2026; check strategy

Stocks to buy from agri, defence ahead of Union Budget: Gaurang Shah of Geojit Investments prefers defence shares such as - Bharat Electronics, Cochin Shipyard, MTAR Technologies and BHEL.

Centre convenes all-party meeting ahead of Budget session: Top agenda

The meeting is aimed at ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament and managing issues that are expected to arise during the session

Union Budget 2026: NRIs seek return to simpler 182-day tax residency rule

Bombay Chambers says graded residency norms introduced in 2020 have made tax status harder to assess for visiting NRIs and PIOs

Budget should push capital expenditure materially: Aditi Nayar, ICRA

The GoI had already provided relief on the personal income tax front in the Union Budget for FY2026, with the revenue foregone on account of this pegged at ₹1.0 trillion

What the Budget must present in a tough global and job environment

As the Union Budget nears, the focus must shift to debt, deficits, and borrowing from household savings, and how these choices affect private investment, manufacturing growth, and jobs