Page 4 - Union Budget

No immediate impact of Pay Commission on FY26 Budget: Expenditure Secy

Govil spoke about issues ranging from Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and pay commission to continued thrust on capital expenditure

Maintaining capex at over 3% is a good benchmark: DEA Secy Ajay Seth

Seth explains the rationale and the Budget fine print

Tax incentives will not lead to inflation: Revenue and Finance Secretary

He is confident of the government achieving 14.4 per cent growth in income-tax collection even after forgoing Rs 1 trillion revenue

Union Budget 2025-26: PMJAY allocation may not suffice, say experts

Budget estimates (BE) for the financial year (FY) 2025-26 have put the allocation for PMJAY at Rs 9,406 crore, a 28.8 per cent increase from Rs 7,300 crore in FY25's BE

Budget 2025: Fiscal consolidation efforts may pull govt bond yields down

RBI's six-member rate setting panel will announce the review of the policy on Friday, 7 February

Presumptive tax regime likely to woo global talent into electronics

Govt proposes only 25% of total remuneration received by expats to be treated as taxable profits

Budget 2025: Individual credit score boost for 100 mn SHG members

Tucked away as an innocuous para in the Budget document, it says "PSBs will develop a 'Grameen Credit Score' framework to serve the credit needs of SHG members, and people in rural areas"

Indirect Taxes: Budget 2025 boosts domestic manufacturing, eases tax burden

The Budget supports the government's pledge to reduce tax burden and move towards a trust-based tax framework

Direct tax: Budget 2025-26 eases burden, boosts spending and growth

Proposals aim to encourage the middle class to spend and help economic growth. By Pwc India

Budget curtails carry-forward losses for mergers and acquisitions

For all mergers effected on or after April 1, 2025, the losses can be carried forward only for the residuary period (counting from the date of loss)

Right price, right time: Volatility unlocks opportunity, says Vikas Khemani

Government has chosen the path of the fiscal prudence which is again good, though market would have expected a bit of more loosening on the fiscal side, Khemani said

The after-Budget playbook: The six-month rocket fuel for market gains

In contrast, one- and three-month returns have been relatively flat, with the Nifty delivering average gains of just 0.1 per cent and 1.7 per cent, respectively, over the past decade

STT collection estimates: Building castles in the air on shifting sands

To secure fiscal targets, sustaining STT growth remains a high-wire act in a windy market

Budget 2025: More push for private funding in power infrastructure

Centre lures states with higher borrowing limit, brings back focus on privatisation of distribution companies

Boost for agriculture: Budget proposals will help farmers and consumers

In terms of Budget allocation, agriculture and its allied sectors have seen a healthy jump of about 22 per cent to about Rs 1.71 trillion

A Budget in search of the middle class: Tax cuts may not spur growth

Much to celebrate in this Budget, but don't assume tax cuts will spark a growth revival

Reduced FY26 outlay for P2M promotion concerns industry, say experts

Incentives to promote such digital payments slashed for 2nd year straight

Budget to boost exports, investments, MSMEs: Hi-Tech Gears chairman

A series of measures announced in the Budget such as steps to boost exports, investments, and promote MSMEs will help accelerate the country's economic growth, international trade expert and Hi-Tech Gears Chairman Deep Kapuria said on Sunday. He said that the focus on agriculture will help in raising farmers' income and give a big boost to rural demand. The budget has made provisions for enhanced credit availability and clean tech manufacturing for the MSME sector and it is fundamental as this segment is responsible for 45 per cent of India's merchandise exports, Kapuria said. "This budget is aimed towards accelerating growth, securing inclusive development, and invigorating private investments," he added. The proposal for an Export Promotion Mission will facilitate easy access to export credit, cross-border factoring support, and support to MSMEs to tackle non-tariff measures in overseas markets. "Besides, a digital public infrastructure, 'BharatTradeNet' for international trade

Budget duty cut on key inputs to boost exports, manufacturing: Commerce Min

The reduction in customs duties in the Budget on certain inputs from sectors like marine, chemicals and critical minerals will help promote domestic manufacturing and enhance exports, according to the Commerce Ministry. It has also said that the announcement to revamp the Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) will provide better leverage during FTA (free trade agreement) negotiations. The duty on frozen fish paste (Surimi) and fish hydrolysate for aquatic feed has been reduced to 5 per cent on both these products from the current 30 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. In the chemicals sector, the levy on pyrimidine and piperazine compounds was cut down to 7.5 per cent from the present 10 per cent; and reduced to 20 per cent on synthetic flavouring essences from 100 per cent. These compounds are used in various medicines. These essences are used to give a certain specific taste or aroma to food and beverages. On sorbitol, a low-calorie sweetener, the duty has been reduced to

Income tax relief to boost demand, drive investment: DEA Secretary

Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth on Sunday said the historic decision to give significant income tax relief will stimulate demand and propel growth in the next financial year for which the ministry has pegged the nominal GDP growth of 10.1 per cent. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced significant income tax cuts for the middle class. Individuals earning up to Rs 12.75 lakh in a year will not have to pay any taxes benefiting 1 crore taxpayers. However, the tax cuts will cost the exchequer about Rs 1 lakh crore. The Union Budget has tried to address domestic headwinds through measures which can mitigate them, Seth told PTI in an interview. "Very, very significant tax relief given to all taxpayers, and in particular to the middle class, is an attempt towards that direction, because some data is showing that consumption, as well as investment by the private sector is not to a level which requires or which is necessary for a higher growth path," he said. "There