Top 100+ Highlights of Union Budget 2026–27

I. Budget Presentation 

  1. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27.

  2. This is her ninth consecutive Union Budget.

  3. Budget presented in the Lok Sabha.

  4. Economy described as being marked by stability.

  5. Government maintained fiscal discipline.

  6. Country saw sustained economic growth.

  7. Inflation remained moderate.

  8. India maintained Atmanirbharta as the “north star”.

  9. Budget speech highlighted a 7% economic growth rate.

  10. India aims to remain deeply integrated with global markets.

  11. Focus on boosting exports.

  12. Focus on attracting long-term foreign investment.

  13. Acknowledgement of disrupted global supply chains.

  14. Emphasis on trade and multilateral cooperation.

  15. Budget driven by “Tri-Kartavya” three-fold approach.


II. Tri-Kartavya Three-Fold Approach

  1. Accelerate and sustain economic growth.

  2. Fulfil aspirations of the people.

  3. Build citizen capacity.

  4. Align actions with “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” vision.


III. India’s Reform Trajectory

  1. Over 350 reforms undertaken so far.

  2. Includes GST implementation.

  3. Reforms include simplification of labour codes.

  4. Rationalisation of mandatory quality control orders.

  5. High-level committees formed across multiple sectors.

  6. Centre working with states on deregulation measures.

  7. Centre working with states on regulatory compliance reduction.


IV. Large New Sector Schemes & Investments

Biopharma & Life Sciences

  1. Launch of Biopharma Shakti initiative.

  2. Outlay of ₹10,000 crore over 5 years.

  3. Focus on advanced biologics and therapies.

  4. Targets diseases like diabetes, cancer, and auto-immune disorders.

Rare Earth & Critical Minerals

  1. Introduction of rare earth corridors.

  2. Focus on permanent magnet manufacturing.

  3. Support for mineral-rich states like Odisha.

  4. Support for Kerala.

  5. Support for Andhra Pradesh.

  6. Promote rare earth mining.

  7. Promote rare earth research.

Semiconductors

  1. Launch of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.

  2. Boost industry-led semiconductor R&D.

  3. Set up new semiconductor training centres.

  4. Develop advanced semiconductor workforce.

Carbon Capture

  1. Outlay of ₹20,000 crore for carbon capture & utilisation.

  2. Targets steel and cement sectors primarily.

  3. Promote low-emission industrial operations.

Container Manufacturing

  1. New ₹10,000 crore scheme for container manufacturing.

  2. 5-year implementation timeline.

  3. Reduce dependency on imported containers.


V. Manufacturing, MSME & Industry

  1. 2000 industry clusters to be revived.

  2. ₹10,000 crore MSME growth fund proposed.

  3. Strengthening of small business ecosystems.

  4. “She MARTS” proposed for women entrepreneurs.

  5. Community-owned retail outlets under She MARTS.

  6. Dedicated initiative for high-quality sports goods manufacturing.

  7. Support for R&D in sporting goods.


VI. Agriculture, Rural Development & Handloom

  1. Proposal for Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj initiative.

  2. Strengthen Khadi and handloom manufacturing.

  3. Coconut production enhancement scheme introduced.

  4. Support for improved farm productivity.

  5. Expansion of fishing & seafood processing benefits.

  6. Increase in duty-free import limit for seafood inputs from 1% to 3%.

  7. Duty-free access to inputs for shoe upper exports.


VII. Textiles & Mega Parks

  1. Proposal for mega textile parks.

  2. Encourage large-scale textile manufacturing.

  3. Boost employment in textile sector.


VIII. Transport Infrastructure

High-Speed Rail

  1. Seven high-speed rail corridors proposed.

  2. Mumbai–Pune.

  3. Pune–Hyderabad.

  4. Hyderabad–Bengaluru.

  5. Hyderabad–Chennai.

  6. Chennai–Bengaluru.

  7. Bengaluru–Varanasi.

  8. Varanasi–Siliguri.

Freight Corridors

  1. New dedicated freight corridor Dankuni–Surat announced.

National Waterways

  1. 20 new national waterways to be operationalised.

  2. Promote sustainable cargo movement.

Aviation Sector

  1. Duty exemption on aviation components and parts.

  2. Reduce cost of aircraft maintenance ecosystem.


IX. Tourism & Culture

  1. Development of mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh.

  2. Mountain trails in Uttarakhand.

  3. Trails in Jammu & Kashmir.

  4. Trails in Araku Valley (Eastern Ghats).

  5. Trails in Western Ghats.

  6. Development of turtle-nesting trails in Odisha.

  7. Turtle trails in Karnataka.

  8. Turtle trails in Kerala.

  9. Budget supports India as medical tourism hub.

  10. 5 regional medical tourism hubs proposed.

  11. Develop 15 archaeological sites into cultural destinations.

  12. Train 10,000 tourist guides nationwide.


X. Education, Skills & Youth

  1. Establish ABGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics) labs in 1500 secondary schools.

  2. ABGC labs in 500 colleges.

  3. Proposal to create content creator labs in 15,000 schools.

  4. Establish 5 university townships near industrial corridors.

  5. Industry-linked training centres for emerging tech fields.


XI. Healthcare Initiatives

  1. Exemption of basic customs duty on 17 cancer drugs.

  2. Inclusion of 7 new rare diseases for import duty exemption.

  3. Duty-free import for medicines and food for special medical needs.

  4. Expanded medical support under LRS reduced TCS rate.


XII. Taxation – Direct Taxes

  1. New Income Tax Act 2025 effective from April 1, 2026.

  2. Simplified income-tax rules coming soon.

  3. Time to revise ITR extended from Dec 31 → Mar 31.

  4. Revised returns allowed with nominal fee.

  5. No penalty for non-disclosure of foreign non-immovable assets under ₹20 lakh.

  6. Such taxpayers will be granted immunity from prosecution.

  7. Reduce TCS rate on overseas tour packages to 2% (from 5–20%).

  8. Reduce TCS rate for education & medical remittances abroad to 2%.

  9. TDS on motor accident tribunal interest fully exempt.

  10. Relief for small taxpayers via rule-based automated processes.

  11. Exemption from income tax for 5 years for non-residents providing capital goods to tall manufacturers in bonded zones.

  12. Proposal for buyback capital tax.


XIII. Customs & Indirect Taxes

  1. Increase limit of duty-free inputs for seafood from 1% to 3%.

  2. Duty-free leather & synthetic footwear input imports increased.

  3. Exemptions proposed for aviation parts & components.


XIV. States & Finance Commission

  1. Vertical devolution retained at 41%.

  2. States allocated ₹1.4 lakh crore as Finance Commission grants.

  3. Includes rural local body grants.

  4. Includes urban local body grants.

  5. Includes disaster management grants.


XV. Public Investment & Governance

  1. Emphasis on India’s conscious economic decisions over last 12 years.

  2. Focus on moderate inflation management.

  3. Highlighted improvements in poverty reduction.

  4. Mention of increased household purchasing power.

  5. Reforms aimed at boosting employment generation.

  6. Policies supporting agricultural productivity.

  7. Strengthened universal services for citizens.

  8. Promotion of long-term industrial planning.

  9. Committee on banking for Viksit Bharat proposed.


XVI. Sports Development

  1. Launch of Khelo India Mission for the next decade.

  2. Strengthening India’s sports infrastructure.

  3. Support for coaching & sports ecosystem reforms.


XVII. Additional Economic Measures

  1. Portfolio investment scheme announced.

  2. Increased limits for overseas Indian residents investment from 10% → 24%.

  3. Emphasis on export-linked industries.

  4. Stronger policy support for capital-intensive sectors.


XVIII. Historic Perspective of Budget Speeches

  1. Year-wise duration of FM speeches listed (2019–2026).

  2. Budget 2020 speech remains the longest at 2 hrs 42 min.

  3. Budget 2026-27 speech lasted 1 hr 25 min.


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