Page 28 - Budget 2026

Pre-Budget meet: States push for equitable funds, higher deficit limits

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has sought a more equitable Centre-state funding pattern under centrally sponsored schemes, taking into account Goa's coastal challenges, Western Ghats ecology, and national tourism responsibilities. Sawant attended the pre-budget Meeting for the Union Budget 2026-27, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in New Delhi on Saturday. Finance ministers of various states and Union Territories and other senior officials participated in the meeting. Later, Sawant, in a statement, said the meeting involved detailed deliberations on key provisions and priorities for the upcoming Union Budget. "Goa's perspectives, demands, and developmental requirements were presented, with a focus on sustaining momentum in critical infrastructure projects," he said. The CM said Goa also sought to strengthen social welfare schemes, ensuring continued support for capital investment, carrying forward state-specific Finance Commission recommendations, and seeking a .

Budget: Tax experts seek clarity on employment deductions available to biz

Ahead of Budget FY27, tax experts seek clarity on Section 80JJAA as ambiguities over employee cost deductions trigger scrutiny and risk disputes for companies

Budget: Oil & gas sector seeks GST relief, LPG under-recovery compensation

The upstream sector wants a reduction in cess on crude oil, restoration of tax holidays for new blocks and exemption of exploration activities from GST

Budget 2026: Infra sector wants regulatory easing, higher capital outlay

ICRA sees 5% growth in rail budget

Budget 2026-27: Health sector seeks tax relief, rationalised rates

Ahead of Budget 2026-27, healthcare, medtech and pharma firms seek tax relief, higher R&D incentives and stronger support for preventive care and domestic manufacturing

FY27 fiscal deficit likely to overshoot target to touch 4.6%: BMI

BMI said fresh spending needs and lower tax receipts could push the deficit higher even if the government sets a 4.3 per cent fiscal deficit target in the 2026-27 Budget

Assocham seeks incentives for hydrogen-based steelmaking in FY27 Budget

Ahead of the Budget, Industry body Assocham has urged the government to provide incentives for hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) and concessional green finance to help the steel sector transition to low-carbon production. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to table the Union Budget for the Financial Year 2026-27 in Parliament on February 1, 2025. In its pre-Budget recommendations for the domestic steel sector, the chamber also suggested incentives for waste-heat recovery systems and the establishment of renewable captive power plants to curb emissions. The industry body noted that decarbonisation presents both a challenge and a competitive opportunity, asserting that these measures can accelerate sustainable production. Assocham further pitched for incentivising scrap collection and recycling, noting that strengthening domestic recycling infrastructure through skilling is essential to reduce the country's dependence on imports. Highlighting the challenges, Asso

FY27 Budget presentation likely on Feb 1, Economic Survey on Jan 29

February 1 is also coinciding with Guru Ravidas birth anniversary, which is a government holiday in some states in remembrance of the 15th-century saint and social reformer

Fiscal deficit target in reach despite lower nominal GDP growth estimate

The Budget estimates for this year had assumed a nominal GDP growth of 10.1 per cent

Budget 2026 must aim to fix the weak link in India's R&D ecosystem

Restoring weighted tax deductions and adopting a petty patents regime can foster firm-level innovative activity critical for competitiveness

India's 7.4% GDP growth looks solid but faces a narrower margin for error

In absolute terms at current prices, the economy is projected to attain the size of ₹357.14 trillion, which is marginally higher than the level assumed in the 2025-26 Budget

BEL, HAL, GRSE among 5 defence stocks to buy ahead of Budget 2026: Analysts

Defence related stocks have rallied up to 5% this year. Sachin Gupta of Choice Broking believes that there is pre-Budget optimism, and projects up to 12% upside in 5 shares based on technical charts.

Budget 2026: Rice exporters seek tax relief, credit and freight support

The Indian Rice Exporter's Federation has urged the Centre to provide a 4% interest subvention on export credit, 3% road and rail freight support, and ensure timely disbursal of duty remission schemes

AIF industry seeks tax parity for private credit funds in Budget

India's AIF industry urges tax parity for private credit funds and clearer rules for Category III AIFs in the upcoming Union Budget to ensure fair treatment and reduce disputes

Govt may relax transfer-pricing regime, make eligibility rules flexible

Move aimed at making safe-harbour rules more attractive and practical

Anticipate govt to go for 10% capex growth in upcoming Budget: L&T CFO

Larsen and Toubro's Chief Financial Officer R Shankar Raman is anticipating a ten per cent increase in capital expenditure outgo in the upcoming budget for FY27. Amid concerns about sagging private capital expenditure growth, Raman said that he does not fear a "crowding out" of resources because of the high spending by the state. The ample liquidity in the system will support such investments. "If India is to become a developed economy by 2047, infrastructure has a lot of role to play, and I think the government is seized of this. I am hopeful that they will allocate adequate resources in the budget to be able to do that," Raman told PTI recently. Pointing to the over Rs 11 lakh crore commitment for capital expenditure in the FY26 budget, Raman said the new document to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a few weeks will continue on the same lines. "They will possibly go for a 10 per cent increase...that is what I am anticipating, but that's at a personal level,"

What is the Union Budget — and why should you care?

What is the Union Budget and why does it matter to you? In this short explainer, we break down how the Budget works and how it impacts taxes, spending, growth, and everyday life minus the jargon.

Pre-Budget meeting: Reforms to stay on top of agenda, signals PM Modi

Ahead of the Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told economists that policymaking must stay aligned with India's 2047 vision, calling for mission-mode reforms and long-term growth focus