Published on: Feb 01, 2026 5:03:36 AM IST
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Union Budget 2026 LIVE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to deliver her ninth straight budget speech in the Parliament today, with an aim to keep the Indian economy in the “goldilocks” zone of high growth and low inflation while battling geopolitical headwinds stoked by Donald Trump and his tariff tantrums.
Jobs creation and steps to boost India’s GDP growth are seen as the top budget priorities for Sitharaman, while raising government expenditure on infrastructure and reforming the import-export equation.
That, when the share of new private investment in the Indian economy fell to its lowest level in a decade in the year ended 31 March 2024, according to ICRA. To compensate, the government increased its share of capital spending by 30% in FY24.
The common man, who received an income tax and GST relief in the ongoing fiscal, can look forward to perhaps higher standard deduction under the new tax regime as well as joint ITR filing by couples.
Sitharaman is also expected to adhere to fiscal consolidation — the government is expected to shit focus to India’s debt-to-GDP ratio instead of a fiscal deficit target seen at 4.2% in FY27.
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Jobs creation and steps to boost India’s GDP growth are seen as the top budget priorities for Sitharaman, while raising government expenditure on infrastructure and reforming the import-export equation.
That, when the share of new private investment in the Indian economy fell to its lowest level in a decade in the year ended 31 March 2024, according to ICRA. To compensate, the government increased its share of capital spending by 30% in FY24.
The common man, who received an income tax and GST relief in the ongoing fiscal, can look forward to perhaps higher standard deduction under the new tax regime as well as joint ITR filing by couples.
Sitharaman is also expected to adhere to fiscal consolidation — the government is expected to shit focus to India’s debt-to-GDP ratio instead of a fiscal deficit target seen at 4.2% in FY27.
Follow all the updates here:
Feb 01, 2026 5:01:27 AM IST
Union Budget 2026 LIVE: The debt picture
Despite its commitment to reducing debt, the government is likely to resort to record bond borrowing. Economists expect gross market borrowing of ₹16.5 lakh crore and net borrowing of ₹11.6 lakh crore. The bond yield is seen at 6.7.% in December 2026.
