The budget 2026-27 allocated funds to allied farm sectors such as high-value crops, livestock, and fisheries to promote crop diversification and improve farm incomes. Yet, these were paltry outlays. There was little for farmers battling a crash in crop prices and incomes, and funds for agri research were slashed amid growing climate risks and a…
Five states scheduled to go for Assembly elections this year are expected to gain from several region- and sector-linked initiatives in manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture, even though the Union Budget did not make explicit state-wise proposals for them. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman framed the measures as part of a nationally applied development strategy, with schemes…
Reacting to India’s Budget for 2026-27, Moody’s Ratings described it as “tactical” but not a “breakthrough.” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Budget, outlining the government’s economic roadmap for the next financial year. Planned fiscal consolidation, which will bring the budget gap to 4.3% from 4.4% in the current year, will not change…
Unlike last year, Budget 2026—the ninth presented by Nirmala Sitharaman—avoids big-bang moves, opting instead for calibrated steps to support growth, avoid the middle-income trap, and stay on track towards developed-nation status.
The Union budget adopted a manufacturing-led strategy to support exports and strengthen India’s integration into global supply chains, at a time when geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions are reshaping sourcing decisions worldwide. Presenting the budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government’s focus would be on lowering input costs, easing compliance and improving logistics and…
New Delhi: India has increased the capital outlay for defence by about 18% to nearly ₹2.2 trillion for the financial year starting 1 April (FY27), as the country looks to acquire sophisticated weapons and modernise its military assets amid rising security risks. The revised estimates put the defence sector’s capital outlay at ₹1.86 trillion in…
New Delhi: The Union budget for FY27 placed the textile sector at the centre of its manufacturing strategy for labour-intensive sectors, unveiling an integrated programme to boost exports, modernize clusters and strengthen India’s position in the global apparel and technical textile markets. Presenting the budget in Parliament on Sunday, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a…
The government has proposed to establish a second National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) to help more people access therapists. “There are no national institutes for mental healthcare in North India. We will therefore set up a Nimhans-2 and also upgrade National Mental Health Institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur as Regional Apex…
India’s 7.4 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will soon be beneficiaries of a new ₹10,000 crore fund, a top-up of an existing fund for startups, and reforms to the government’s business invoice portal TReDS. In her ninth Union budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a three-pronged approach towards MSMEs, which contribute to about…
New Delhi: India’s Union budget for FY27 marks a clear shift in the Centre’s fiscal framework, with the government formally moving from a focus on annual fiscal deficit reduction to a debt-to-GDP regime of budget discipline that is designed to absorb external shocks without derailing medium-term consolidation. The new approach comes after the Centre sharply…
