Union Budget 2026-27: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made many big announcements in her budget speech. It also talked about changing the way common Indians file, declare and pay taxes. The Finance Minister also mentioned the new timeline, lower TCS rates, tax-free compensation rules and the introduction of a new facility to provide information for foreign assets.

These changes have been implemented to reduce the hassle and initial cash expenditure in complying with the rules and to give taxpayers more time to correct mistakes before the new Income Tax Act comes into force on April 1, 2026.

New Income Tax Act implemented

At the heart of these announcements is the implementation of the new Income Tax Act from April 1, 2026, which the government says will modernize and simplify the tax system. Ahead of this change, the filing timeline is being staggered – individuals filing ITR-1 and ITR-2 will continue to file till July 31, while non-audit business cases and trusts will get time till August 31. The deadline for revising returns will also be extended to March 31 every year, for which a small fee will be charged, which will give taxpayers more time to correct mistakes.

Overseas tour packages cut

The biggest win for consumers is the huge reduction in TCS on overseas tour packages, which is now flat at 2% without any limit compared to the earlier 5% and 20% slabs. Under LRS, the TCS rate on money sent for education and medical purposes will also be reduced from 5 percent to 2 percent, which will reduce the cash burden on families.

Gauri Puri, partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said, “Procedural compliance plays an important role for small taxpayers in this budget. Reduction in TCS rates, automated facility to get low and zero withholding tax certificates, ability to disclose foreign assets and extended deadline for filing revised returns, all these are the main examples.”

In a major relief measure, the interest paid by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to the common people will also now be completely tax-free and no TDS will be applicable on it, thereby ending years of uncertainty.

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Share Market Crash: As soon as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced to increase the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on Futures and Options (F&O) trade in the Union Budget 2026, the benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty reached the day’s low.

Sensex and Nifty both crashed

BSE Sensex reached the day’s low of 81,129, with a huge fall of 1,140 points or 1.39 percent. While NSE Nifty 50 was seen trading at 24,965, down 356 points or 1.41 percent. During her budget speech, FM Sitharaman said that STT on future trade will be increased from 0.02 percent to 0.05 percent. Additionally, the FM proposed to increase the STT on options premium from 0.1 per cent to 0.15 per cent. This had a bad impact on the stock market. Broader markets were also seen trading at lower levels. Nifty Midcap 100 declined by 2.7 percent and Nifty Smallcap 100 declined by 3.4 percent.

Semiconductor Budget: In this changing era of Artificial Intelligence, India is also focusing more and more on it. This is the reason why in order to further strengthen the country’s semiconductor ecosystem, the government has allocated a huge budget of Rs 40,000 in the budget 2025-26.

In his budget speech, the Finance Minister said, “Moving forward in this direction, we will launch ISM 2.0 to manufacture equipment and materials, do full stack design, strengthen Indian IP and supply chain. We will also focus on industry-led research and training centers to develop technology and skilled workforce.”

Why is this investment important?

This investment of Rs 40,000 crore on semiconductors will strengthen India’s efforts for high-tech manufacturing amid global supply-chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, increasing demand for semiconductors in AI, electric vehicles, 5G/6G telecom, defense and consumer electronics. The sector is critical to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India, which aims to meet a large portion of domestic demand locally and establish India as a major global hub by 2030.

What will be its effect?

After this announcement in the budget, investors’ confidence in India’s ambitions regarding semiconductors is expected to increase. This may reflect positive sentiment in stocks of related sectors like electronics manufacturing, defense and tech infrastructure as analysts see it as continuation of capex-driven growth in strategic areas.

According to earlier estimates, India is going to enter the upcoming growth in semiconductor sector rapidly. According to MARC Group estimates, India’s semiconductor market size is expected to reach approximately US$177 billion by 2034 and is also expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.18 percent between 2026 and 2034.

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Budget 2026: Simple meaning of difficult words in budget speech, understand everything here

Budget 2026 Income Tax Expectations: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026-27 shortly. Like every year, this time too the middle class and salaried taxpayers of the country will listen to the budget speech in the hope of tax relief.

In last year’s budget, no changes were made in the old tax regime, but things like changing the tax slab rates were included in the new regime. Tax experts believe that there is little scope for any major changes in income tax in Budget 2026. However, some changes are being expected to further boost consumption. Come, through this news we are going to tell you about 5 expectations being placed on the income tax front.

Currently, the income tax slabs under the new tax system are as follows:

• At present the limit of basic exemption in income tax is Rs 4 lakh. Taxpayers are demanding that this limit be increased further to reduce the burden of compliance.
• 5% tax is levied on income in the bracket of Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.
• 10% tax is levied on income in the bracket of Rs 8 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.
• Income between Rs 12 lakh to Rs 16 lakh is taxed at 15 per cent, which increases to 20 per cent for income between Rs 16 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and 25 per cent for those earning between Rs 20 lakh to Rs 24 lakh.
• Any income above Rs 24 lakh is taxed at the highest slab rate of 30 percent. Salaried taxpayers want FM Sitharaman to increase the income limit for the 30 percent tax bracket to Rs 30 lakh.
• Currently, after taking rebate under Section 87A, income up to Rs 12 lakh (Rs 12.75 lakh for salaried taxpayers) is tax free. Tax experts suggest that this limit can be increased to Rs 15 lakh.

Standard deduction limit increased

Many taxpayers are filing tax returns under the old income tax system. Their demand is that the government should reduce the tax rate in that system also and increase the limit of basic exemption. The limits of standard deduction are different in the old and new income tax systems.

Those filing taxes under the old income tax system can avail the benefit of standard deduction of Rs 50,000, while those filing taxes under the new income tax system can avail the benefit of a higher standard deduction of Rs 75,000. Tax experts believe that there is a need to increase the limit of standard deduction, especially in the new tax system which allows very few deductions and exemptions.

interest on home loan

Under the old income tax system, individual taxpayers could avail tax deduction on interest paid on home loan. The interest you pay on home loan for your own property can be deducted from your taxable income up to Rs 2 lakh (or the actual interest paid, if less) every year. Tax experts believe that to promote the housing sector, this benefit should also be available in the new tax system.

Section 80C Deduction

Section 80C is a popular exemption available under the old income tax system, but its limit of Rs 1.5 lakh has not changed for many years. This rebate is available on investments made in Provident Fund, Public Provident Fund (PPF), Mutual Funds and other popular investment options. Tax experts believe that to promote savings, there is a need not only to increase this limit, but to adopt it, the benefit of this exemption should also be included in the new income tax system.

tax filing system

The government is focusing on making income tax return filing easier, but taxpayers believe that e-filing of returns still needs to be made easier. Tax experts say that there is a need to make tax compliance mechanisms, grievance redressal systems and tax queries related to mismatch in Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 16, Form 26AS less complex.

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Budget 2026: Will crypto investors get tax relief? Know what are the expectations of investors from the budget

Budget 2026: At last the moment has come for which the whole country is eagerly waiting. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 shortly. Generally, middle class taxpayers have high expectations from the budget, who, amidst rising inflation, focus on what has become cheaper in the budget and what has become expensive so that the finances of the house can be managed accordingly. Today, through this news, we can give you broad information about which things can become cheaper in this budget.

What will be the focus?

The government is expected to focus on strengthening the ‘Make in India’ initiative in the budget and will also work on increasing the purchasing power of the people. Domestic manufacturing can be promoted for the development of the country, which can benefit many consumer-facing sectors.

In this sequence, it is possible that this time after the budget, smartphones and tablets made in India will become cheaper, but this will happen only when the custom duty on essential components like camera module and display unit is reduced. Undoubtedly this step will promote local manufacturing and reduce prices for consumers.

Your dream of own home can come true

Since the real estate sector of the country is emerging rapidly and the luxury housing segment is witnessing continuous growth. In such a situation, the focus can be on the budget segment or affordable houses. It is expected that the limit of tax deduction on home loan interest can be increased from the current Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. If this indeed happens, it will significantly reduce the cost of buying a home for buyers.

The government can also emphasize on health insurance sector in Budget 2026. Due to this, health insurance premium can get relief from indirect tax. Experts have advised to increase tax benefits like Section 80D in the new tax system. If this proposal is approved, then the limit of standard deduction on health insurance premium can be increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.

Their prices may also reduce

If the tax on raw materials used in making batteries is reduced in Budget 2026, then the prices of electric two-wheelers and cars can reduce. Similarly, if duty is reduced on life-saving drugs, such as cancer medicines and essential medical devices, they can become more affordable. This will reduce the expenses on treatment. If tax or duty exemption is given, then the prices of home electronics like televisions, refrigerators and other home appliances made in India may also come down.

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Exclusive: Why is this year’s budget going to be different from the budgets of the last 75 years? After all, what will be special in it?

Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget tomorrow i.e. on 1st February, for which the entire country is eagerly waiting. This will be his 9th consecutive budget as Finance Minister, which will be a record in itself. This year’s budget is going to be something special, especially the way it is presented. This year’s budget presentation will be very unique among all the budgets presented in the last 75 years.

What will be special this time?

Usually, in the budget speech, Part A contained a lot of details, while Part B contained only a few announcements. According to government sources, this time Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to talk in great detail in Part B. In Part B of the budget speech, both short-term and long-term goals will be emphasized and discussed in detail. India’s economic vision and priorities will be mentioned in Part B of the budget speech.

What other things will be mentioned in Part B?

Apart from this, Part B may also mention India’s capabilities and the roadmap to present them to the world. That is, it will show what kind of possibilities there are for the development of the country in the future. This is why Part B of the budget speech is likely to get a lot of attention from economists and experts in India and around the world. You can watch Sansad TV, Press Information Bureau (PIB) India’s YouTube channel and official website indiabudget.gov.in You can watch live streaming of the budget.

When will the budget speech start?

The Finance Minister’s budget speech will start from 11 am tomorrow, which is likely to last for about 60 to 90 minutes. After the budget speech, documents related to it can be presented in both the houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

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Know before Budget 2026, on which sectors Kuber’s treasure was showered last year, what are the expectations this time

Budget 2026: The country’s general budget will be presented on Sunday, February 1. During this period, investors will focus on those sectors which are expected to benefit from continued government spending and policy support. PSUs can dominate the market in banks, railways, defence, infrastructure, electric vehicles and FMCG sectors. New allocations and reforms in these sectors are expected to boost the sector-specific rally.

Mixed condition of sectoral index

Sectoral indices remained mixed on Friday, the last trading day of the week before the budget, with good gains seen in FMCG, consumer durables, healthcare and auto stocks. On one hand, Nifty Auto Index rose 0.73 percent and closed at 26,750.35. At the same time, Nifty FMCG closed at 51,215.20 with a gain of 1.37 percent. Nifty Consumer Durables index also rose by 1.08 percent to reach 34,387.55 and Nifty Healthcare index jumped by 0.75 percent to close at 13,893.85.

Which sectors were under pressure?

On the other hand, financial and metal sectors appeared to be under pressure. Nifty Financial Services fell 0.85 percent to 29,773.10. Nifty Metal fell sharply by 5.21 percent and closed at 11,827.55, making it the worst performing sector.

Among banks, Nifty PSU Bank remained flat at around 9,019.35, while Nifty Private Bank declined by 0.63 per cent. Large scale Nifty Realty gained 0.84 per cent and Nifty Media gained 1.85 per cent. Similarly, Midsmall Healthcare and Midsmall IT & Telecom indices also saw slight gains.

stock market under pressure

The special thing is that the Indian stock market is under continuous pressure for the last few sessions, the main reason for which is the heavy selling of FIIs in domestic equities. According to exchange data, foreign portfolio investors continued their selling and on January 29, 2026, foreign investors sold shares worth Rs 393.97 crore. In contrast, domestic institutional investors placed bets on Indian stocks worth Rs 2,638.76 crore on the same day.

Disclaimer: (The information provided here is being given for information only. It is important to note here that investing in the market is subject to market risks. Always consult an expert before investing money as an investor. ABPLive.com It is never advised for anyone to invest any money here.)

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Steer or roll? How is the stock market after the budget? Know the trend of last 15 years

Budget 2026-27: At last the moment has come for which the entire country has been waiting. The Union Budget 2026 is to be presented in Parliament on Sunday, February 1. A lot of ups and downs were seen in the Indian stock market before the budget. In such a situation, now investors or traders may get confused as to what will be the trend of the stock market after the budget. To remove this confusion, we are going to give you information about how the market has behaved after the presentation of the last 15 union budgets i.e. interim and final budgets.

SBI Securities has analyzed the market performance after the presentation of the last 15 union budgets. In this report, the focus has been on the post-budget returns of Sensex, Nifty, Midcap, Smallcap and other big sectors.

How was the trend of Sensex?

According to the report, in the last 15 years, the Sensex remained positive 11 out of 15 times for the next one week of the budget presented. During this period, an average return of about 2.10 percent has been received. During this period, the Sensex closed with a loss on an average about 4 times, in which an average decline of about 2.05 percent was recorded. During the next three months after the presentation of the budget, the Sensex has risen 9 times out of 15 and has given an average return of about 6.77 percent. At the same time, six times Sensex has given negative returns with an average fall of about 5.28 percent.

How was the performance of Nifty?

The trend of Nifty has also been almost similar to that of Sensex. During the next one week after the budget, Nifty has given an average return of about 2.04 percent, closing with a positive trend 12 times out of 15. At the same time, it weakened three times and during this period there was an average loss of about 2.65 percent. Similarly, in the next three months after the presentation of the budget, Nifty showed an increase 9 times out of 15, with an average gain of about 7.40 percent. At the same time, there were negative closings six times, where an average decline of about 5.46 percent was recorded.

How was the performance of midcap and smallcap?

After the budget, in the next one week, both midcap and smallcap indices closed with a positive trend 11 out of 15 times. During this period, there has been an average increase of 3.1 to 3.3 percent. At the same time, the index has declined 4 times, where the average decline was 2.7 to 3 percent. In the next three months period after the presentation of the budget, the midcap index has given positive returns 10 times out of 15, with an average increase of about 8.67 percent.

At the same time, the performance of the smallcap index was a bit volatile. It has had positive closing 7 times out of 15, with an average return of about 14.54 percent. At the same time, it went down 8 times, where the average loss was about 8.77 percent.

Disclaimer: (The information provided here is being given for information only. It is important to note here that investing in the market is subject to market risks. Always consult an expert before investing money as an investor. ABPLive.com It is never advised for anyone to invest any money here.)

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Budget 2026: Market fell before the budget? No worries, trading on NSE-BSE on Sunday for the second time in history

Budget 2026: After the change in GST rates, the government has now started preparing for the country’s budget. The Finance Ministry has issued a circular regarding the preparations for the budget. It says that the ministry and its associated departments will start preparing for the budget of October 2026.

The special thing is that it is coming after 50 percent tariffs on the import of Indian goods of US President Donald Trump. Experts say that there is no scope for any reconciliation between the two countries before the upcoming budget in February next year, so the budget will be specially focused on the sectors who have suffered more than the tariff of Trump. Let us give you some more information about the preparations for the upcoming budget through this news.

When will the preparation of budget 2026 start?

The Finance Ministry will start preparing for the budget of 2026-27 from 9 October. Budget preparations are going to start amidst US India and global uncertainties arising from it.

In the next year’s budget, more attention will be paid to more and more employment opportunities along with increasing the demand. Along with this, focus will also be done on transporting the economy of the country at more than eight percent sustainable growth rate. The government estimates that during the current financial year, the country’s economic growth rate will be between 6.3 to 6.8 percent.

Some special things of circular

According to the budget circular (2026-27) of the Department of Economic Affairs, the Budget-East meetings chaired by the Secretary (Expenditure) will start from October 9, 2025. The circular states that financial advisors should ensure that the required details in VII from Appendix I are properly recorded by or before October 3, 2025.

The hard copy of the data in the specified format should be deposited for verification. The budget estimates for the financial year 2026-27 will be finalized after the completion of the budget-pre-meetings and the revised estimate (RE) meetings will continue till mid-November 2025.

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