“Operation Sindoor” in 2025 after the conflict with Pakistan taught India that national security is not just a need of today but a preparation for the uncertainties of tomorrow. The Defense Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February 2026 is a reflection of this thinking. The historic allocation of ₹7.85 lakh crore, which is 15.19% more than last year, shows that security is the top priority. The center of this budget is self-reliant India, where India is no longer becoming an importer of arms but a manufacturer. Capital outlay of ₹2.19 lakh crore reflects investment in new weapons, aircraft, warships and advanced technology. Make in India will get a boost from ₹1.39 lakh crore domestic procurement. The target of taking defense exports to ₹50,000 crore, and new growth opportunities for companies like Bharat Electronics, Bharat Dynamics, Mazagon Ship Builders—this budget lays a strong foundation for the future.

‘O Bhaijaan, Arab world is not against Pakistan…’, PAK experts got angry when ministers of Middle East countries met PM Modi

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union now seems to be reaching the final stage. To take this deal forward, India has given a big tariff offer. According to reports, it has been proposed to reduce the import duty on cars coming from Europe from 110% to 40%. This deduction will be applicable on premium cars whose import price is more than 15,000 euros. It is believed that this step can give a breakthrough to the India-EU FTA negotiations that have been stuck for years. At present the goods and services trade between India and EU is more than $190 billion. European Union is also India’s largest goods trading partner, so this FTA can prove to be a game changer for both the economies.