Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, marking a historic first for a Sunday presentation. The total size of this budget is ₹53.5 lakh crore. This was the Finance Minister’s ninth consecutive budget speech, where she outlined the roadmap for the upcoming financial year.
आपके लिए प्रकाशित: Budget 2026: Finance Minister announces ₹20000 Crore for Steel and Cement, Big relief for Developers।
Key Financial Numbers and Targets
The government has focused on managing the country’s debt and increasing spending on development. The capital expenditure has been increased by nearly 9% compared to last year. Here are the official figures shared in the parliament:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Budget Size | ₹53.5 Lakh Crore |
| Fiscal Deficit Target | 4.3% for FY27 |
| Capex (Development Spending) | ₹12.2 Lakh Crore |
| Debt-to-GDP Target (FY27) | 55.6% |
| Net Market Borrowing | ₹11.7 Lakh Crore |
Changes in Tax Rules and Benefits
The Finance Minister announced that the new Income Tax Act, 2025 will come into effect from April 1, 2026. While there are no changes in the income tax slabs this year, some rules have been eased for the common people.
- Medical Relief: Basic customs duty has been removed on 17 types of cancer medicines.
- Foreign Remittance: TCS rate on sending money abroad for education and medical treatment is reduced from 5% to 2%.
- ITR Filing: The deadline to file a Revised Income Tax Return has been extended from December 31 to March 31.
- Import Duty: Tariffs on goods imported for personal use have been cut from 20% to 10%.
New Schemes and Market Updates
The government has also introduced measures for the stock market. The Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on Futures has increased to 0.05% and on Options to 0.15%. On the development front, the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 has been launched with ₹40,000 crore.
For infrastructure, 7 new high-speed rail corridors and 20 new national waterways have been proposed. A new initiative called ‘Bio-Pharma Shakti’ receives ₹10,000 crore to boost the pharmaceutical sector.
