Budget 2026: The 14 States mentioned by Finance Minister and a breakdown of related projects

The FM mentioned in her Budget speech that Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala will develop Turtle Trails to protect and promote nesting sites. | Photo Credit: Asit Kumar In her Union Budget 2026 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman explicitly named 14 States. However, when accounting for the States and Union Territories associated with the 27 specific…

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Government unveils support schemes for Divyangjans and sports

The Union government has proposed two targeted initiatives—Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana and Divyang Sahara Yojana—aimed at expanding dignified livelihood opportunities and improving access to assistive technology for persons with disabilities (Divyangjans). Under the Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana, the focus will be on skill development in sectors such as information technology (IT), animation, visual effects, gaming and comics…

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Government proposes 38% higher outlay for telecom to ₹73,990 crore, BSNL gets ₹28,473 crore

Union Minister Telecom Jyotiraditya Scindia. File. | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA The government has proposed to increase the outlay for the Telecom Ministry to ₹73,990 crore, mainly due to a significant rise in capital infusion for state-run telecom firm BSNL. The increased allocation is for various projects, including BharatNet, capital requirement of BSNL, including…

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Budget 2026 seeks to make tax regime less adversarial, more predictable: official

Through changes to assessment and penalty procedures, alongside selective exemptions and relaxed safe harbour norms, the government is seeking to make the tax system less adversarial and more predictable—both for individuals and for multinational companies operating in India, a senior government official said on Monday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the…

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Budget signals shift in export policy, phases out interest subsidies

Experts say that this shift could significantly alter how exporters access state support in an increasingly volatile global trade environment. The budget documents show that older interest subsidy schemes have been phased out, while funding is being redirected towards export insurance, trade enforcement and streamlined export support programmes. The move suggests that the Centre no…

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SEZ jewellery units get relief with Budget allowing domestic market sales

The Union Budget 2026 allows Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units to sell gems and jewellery in the domestic market at concessional duties, helping manufacturers utilise idle capacity amid falling exports | Photo Credit: SHASHI ASHIWAL/businessline The Budget’s move to allow units in Special Economic Zones to sell in the domestic markets will help jewellers who…

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