Returned home after studying abroad? Union Budget 2026 introduces a one-time, six-month foreign asset disclosure scheme that lets you voluntarily report undisclosed overseas income or foreign bank accounts (within ₹1 crore/₹5 crore limits) without penalties or prosecution. For Indian students with foreign internships, stipends, overseas pay, ESOPs or global accounts, this is a rare compliance reset before tax residency reignites scrutiny.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget—becoming the first finance minister in India to achieve this milestone—and also the first to present a Union Budget on a Sunday. The Economic Survey tabled ahead of the Budget had projected India’s economic growth at 6.8–7.2 per cent in FY27, providing the broader macroeconomic context for social sector spending.
Nirmala Sitharaman delivered her ninth consecutive Union Budget speech, lasting 1 hour and 25 minutes, outlining the fiscal roadmap for 2026-27. This presentation marks her record-breaking six years and eight months as Finance Minister in continuous office. Prime Minister Modi hailed the event as a proud parliamentary tradition.
Stock market crash after Budget 2026: Investors reacted negatively to a hike in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options (F&O) trades announced by FM Sitharaman.
Latest Income Slabs FY 2026-2027 after Budget 2026: Taxpayers will continue to pay income tax as per the ongoing income tax slabs that are currency effective for FY 2025-2026. The income tax slabs under the new income tax regime underwent a major overhaul in last year’s Budget and hence this year the expectation was low of the FM bringing any changes.
Benchmark indices tumbled sharply on Sunday as BSE Sensex dropped over 1,000 points and NSE Nifty50 dipped below 25,000. Gold and silver prices also crashed, hitting lower circuit levels ahead of the Union Budget 2026–27 presentation. Trading proceeded as usual on the weekend, a rare occurrence for Indian stock exchanges.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed dedicated rare earth corridors in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala to boost domestic capabilities and reduce import dependence. The initiative, part of the 2026-27 Union Budget, aims to support mining, processing, and manufacturing of critical minerals essential for clean energy and defence.
Railway Budget 2026 Live: At the start of this year, Indian Railways introduced the first Vande Bharat sleeper train service. The new semi-high speed train set, capable of 160 kmph speeds, is aimed at overhauling overnight travel experience on the Indian Railways network.