Union Budget India 2026: Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Budget Highlights

The Union Budget of 2026, presented by the Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, reflects a calm, continuity-driven fiscal approach rather than headline-grabbing shifts. At a time when global uncertainty remains high, the Budget signals confidence in India’s macro fundamentals, institutional reforms, and long-term growth strategy.

Instead of changing tax rates or introducing sweeping populist measures, Budget 2026 focuses on simplifying laws, reducing compliance friction, strengthening global integration, and reinforcing India’s position as a competitive investment destination

Union Budget 2026 Overview

Budget 2026 builds on reforms announced in previous years and sharpens execution rather than altering direction. The emphasis is on legal certainty, administrative efficiency, and policy predictability.

Core themes of Budget 2026

• Structural reform over short-term stimulus

•   Compliance simplification instead of tax rate changes

•   Capital market openness with regulatory safeguards

•   Support for MSMEs, exports, and globally mobile taxpayers

• Strengthening India’s international financial ecosystem

Economic Context: What the Budget Is Built On

According to the Economic Survey 2026, India’s real GDP growth is projected at around 7.4 percent in FY26. This growth outlook is supported by:

•   Strong domestic consumption

•   Sustained public capital expenditure

•   Early signs of private investment revival

• Labour market formalisation through new Labour Codes

The Budget aligns with this outlook by reinforcing efficiency and long-term competitiveness rather than expanding fiscal deficits.

Budget 2026: Key Highlights at a Glance

Area	What Budget 2026 Does
Income Tax Law	Introduces Income Tax Act 2025 from April 2026
Tax Rates	No change in personal income tax slabs
Compliance	Extended timelines and simplified filing
MSMEs	Reduced compliance friction
Capital Markets	Higher foreign portfolio investment limits
IFSC	Extended tax holidays for GIFT City
Cross-Border Rules	Streamlined trade and borrowing frameworks

Price Impact: What Becomes Cheaper and Costlier

In line with its focus on long-term growth and sustainability, Budget 2026 includes targeted adjustments in prices, with a clear emphasis on promoting public health, boosting domestic manufacturing, and aligning with environmental goals.

While the Budget refrains from broad-based tax cuts, certain goods and services are either made more affordable or slightly more expensive, based on strategic policy priorities. Below is a breakdown of the key changes in pricing.

What Has Become Cheaper After Budget 2026

Category	Item	Change After Budget 2026
Essential Goods and Medical Supplies	Cancer treatment drugs	Basic Customs Duty fully exempted on 17 cancer drugs, lowering chemotherapy and treatment costs
Essential Goods and Medical Supplies	Medicines for rare diseases	Duty exemption for 7 rare disease drugs and specialised medical nutrition
Essential Goods and Medical Supplies	Diabetes care medicines	Supply chain tax rationalisation expected to reduce prices of insulin and related medicines
Consumer Goods	Mobile phones and tablets	Lower duties on components such as connectors, PCBA, and battery covers to support local manufacturing
Consumer Goods	Leather footwear	Duty free import of Wet Blue leather reduces production costs
Consumer Goods	Electric vehicle batteries	Extended duty exemptions on lithium ion cell manufacturing equipment
Services	International travel	TCS on overseas tour packages reduced to 2 percent
Services	Foreign education and medical remittances	TCS capped at 2 percent for education and medical expenses abroad
Tax Related Reliefs	Standard deduction	Continues at ₹75,000 under the new tax regime
Tax Related Reliefs	Interest on accident compensation	Interest awarded by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal made fully tax exempt

What Has Become Costlier After Budget 2026

Category	Item	Change After Budget 2026
Luxury and Non Essential Goods	Imported luxury watches	Higher import duties to support domestic premium brands
Luxury and Non Essential Goods	Imported alcohol	Increased duties on premium spirits and wines
Luxury and Non Essential Goods	High end cameras	Higher import tariffs on professional photography and filming equipment
Environmental and Sin Goods	Cigarettes and tobacco	Increase in National Calamity Contingent Duty
Health and Wellness Adjustments	Coffee machines	Removal of duty exemptions on roasting and brewing equipment
Tax Adjustments	Stock trading in futures and options	Securities Transaction Tax increased on F&O transactions

Income Tax Reforms in Budget 2026 Explained

A major structural change in Budget 2026 income tax is the rollout of the Income Tax Act 2025, which replaces the six-decade-old Income Tax Act 1961 with effect from 1 April 2026.

What Changed

• The tax law framework is modernised and simplified

• Language, structure, and procedures are streamlined

• Filing timelines are reworked for better compliance

What Did Not Change

• Personal income tax slabs and rates remain unchanged for FY 2026–27

This approach avoids disruption while improving clarity and administration.

New Income Tax Filing Timelines

Taxpayer Category	Filing Deadline
Salaried taxpayers	31 July
Non audit business taxpayers	31 August
Revised return deadline	Extended to 31 March of AY (with nominal fee)

Budget 2026 Disclosure Scheme for Foreign Assets

Recognising increased global mobility, Budget 2026 introduces the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers Disclosure Scheme 2026.

Who Can Use This Scheme

• Students

• Young professionals

• Returning NRIs

Why It Matters

• One-time six-month window

• Allows voluntary disclosure of limited foreign income or assets

• Provides immunity from penalties and prosecution under the Black Money Act

This move prioritises compliance encouragement over punitive enforcement.

TDS and TCS Changes in Budget 2026

The Budget rationalises withholding provisions to ease cash flow pressures.

Key Change

• TCS reduced to 2 percent on overseas remittances for education and medical purposes under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme

This helps families, students, and patients manage legitimate international expenses more efficiently.

Budget 2026 for MSMEs and Export-Oriented Businesses

For MSMEs, the Budget focuses on reducing procedural hurdles rather than introducing new subsidies.

MSME Impact

• Lower compliance friction

• Simplified trade documentation

• Alignment with free trade agreements

Export-oriented MSMEs also benefit from regulatory clarity in cross-border transactions.

Capital Markets and Foreign Investment Reforms

What Changed

• Portfolio investment limit for non-residents proposed to increase from 10 percent to 24 percent
• External Commercial Borrowing guidelines rationalised
• RBI export-import framework simplified

These reforms signal a calibrated opening of India’s financial system while maintaining safeguards.

GIFT City and IFSC Focus in Budget 2026

A standout feature of Budget 2026 sector impact is the renewed focus on International Financial Services Centres (IFSC).

Key IFSC Incentives

• Tax holiday extended to 20 years

• Followed by a concessional tax regime

• Greater regulatory certainty

This strengthens India’s ambition to compete with global financial hubs.

What Budget 2026 Means for Individuals and Businesses

For individuals:

• Clearer rules

• Longer timelines

• Lower compliance anxiety

For businesses:

• Stable tax environment

• Reduced regulatory ambiguity

• Better global integration

A predictable policy environment also improves access to formal credit, where individuals and small businesses often assess affordability using a loan EMI calculator or explore structured borrowing through an instant loan app when managing short-term needs. Such decisions benefit from regulatory and income predictability.

Union Budget 2026 Key Takeaways

• No sudden tax shocks

• Strong focus on legal certainty

• Compliance eased, not diluted

• Capital markets gradually opened

• Global integration prioritised

• IFSC positioned as a long-term growth engine

Final Perspective

The key points of the Union Budget reflect a mature fiscal stance. Rather than reacting to short-term pressures, the Budget reinforces predictability, structural reform, and long-term competitiveness. By prioritising certainty over spectacle, it strengthens confidence among taxpayers, investors, and businesses navigating an increasingly interconnected global economy.

FAQs on Union Budget 2026

Q1. What are the key highlights of the Union Budget 2026?

Budget 2026 focuses on tax law modernisation, compliance simplification, MSME support, capital market openness, and strengthening GIFT City.

Q2. When was the Union Budget 2026 announced?

Union Budget 2026 was presented on 1 February 2026.

Q3. How does Budget 2026 change income tax?

While tax rates remain unchanged, a new Income Tax Act takes effect from April 2026 with simplified procedures and revised filing timelines.

Q4. Are there new schemes in Budget 2026?

The focus is on refining existing frameworks rather than launching multiple new schemes.

Q5. How does Budget 2026 affect the common person?

It provides more certainty, easier compliance, and reduced procedural stress without changing tax rates.

Q6. Which sectors benefit most from Budget 2026?

MSMEs, export-driven businesses, financial services, and IFSC-linked institutions benefit significantly.

Q7. What are the major tax reforms in Budget 2026?

Introduction of the Income Tax Act 2025, revised return deadlines, and a voluntary foreign asset disclosure scheme.

Q8. Is income tax free up to a certain limit in 2026?

Tax slabs remain unchanged, but procedural relief improves the overall compliance experience.

Q9. How does the Union Budget 2026 impact MSMEs?

By reducing compliance friction, simplifying trade processes, and improving regulatory clarity.