The budget simplifies tax collection with revised Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rates, significantly benefiting overseas travelers, students, and those seeking medical treatment abroad. Changes include a reduced 2% TCS on education, medical, and tour packages under 10 lakh, easing upfront costs.
A new partial credit guarantee fund will support private developers. This will help lenders by reducing risks. Investments will flow into long-gestation and urban infrastructure projects. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated the fund aims to boost private sector confidence. This initiative will lower capital costs, making public services more affordable.
Government borrowing is increasingly financing capital expenditure, boosting economic growth potential as effective capital spending surpasses the fiscal deficit. Conservative tax revenue growth, alongside non-tax receipts and asset sales, provides a cushion. While revenue spending is managed, a slight increase in the budget size is observed, with a focus on easing the debt burden towards targets.
India's Union Budget 2026-27 introduces a comprehensive customs overhaul, featuring duty relief for manufacturing and exports, and a single digital window for faster clearances. Measures aim to boost competitiveness in sectors like textiles and footwear, while rationalizing duties on strategic imports to enhance market access with the US.
India is significantly boosting its weather forecasting. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated Rs 1,342 crore for Mission Mausam. This ambitious initiative will use advanced technologies and computing to improve weather monitoring and prediction. The Ministry of Earth Sciences receives a total of Rs 3,789.23 crore. The Deep Ocean Mission also receives funding for exploration and technology development.
The Union Budget 2026-27 earmarks over Rs 1471 crore for upgrading forensic capabilities. Funds will boost safety of women initiatives, modernize Central Forensic Science Laboratories, and establish a National Forensic Data Centre. The Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System receives Rs 550 crore for seamless data sharing. Criminology and Forensic Science sees a significant hike, supporting R&D and regional labs.
To discourage misuse of tax arbitrage, promoters will be subject to an additional buyback tax, raising the effective tax rate to 22 per cent for corporate promoters and 30 per cent for non-corporate promoters, she stated.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called the 10 percent nominal GDP growth estimate for the financial year beginning April 1, 2026, realistic. This projection is based on current GDP base year and methodology. India's GDP is estimated at Rs 393 lakh crore. The government will soon revise base years for key economic indicators like GDP and CPI.
Gold prices rebounded nearly 7% on MCX after a brutal selloff ahead of Budget 2026. Profit booking, margin pressures and lack of jewellery-sector relief weighed on bullion, while silver stayed flat after historic volatility following record crashes in both metals.
