The Union Budget for FY 2026‑27 was presented on 1 February 2026 against a backdrop of high taxes, weak private investment and external vulnerabilities. The Finance Minister outlined an ambitious roadmap for a "Viksit Bharat" covering agriculture, manufacturing, MSMEs, social welfare and infrastructure, but the fiscal and policy choices merit close scrutiny.
Key Developments
- Targeted Fiscal Consolidation at 4.4% of GDP by FY26, relying on an 11.2% rise in total tax revenue and a 14.4% jump in income‑tax receipts.
- Personal income‑tax rates under the new regime were revised, exempting incomes up to ₹12 lakh and reducing liabilities across brackets, at an estimated cost of ₹1 lakh crore in foregone revenue.
- Launch of a PLI‑type credit facilities for MSME and a new National Manufacturing Mission to improve ease of doing business.
- Increase of the KCC limit from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh and rollout of the Prime Minister Dhan‑Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
- Trade‑related measures such as Bharat Trade Net (BTN) and export‑credit support for MSMEs, aimed at narrowing the persistent Trade Deficit.
- Energy‑sector incentives for lithium‑ion battery recycling, duty exemptions on critical minerals and support for domestic solar‑PV and battery manufacturing.