{"id":16396,"date":"2026-02-01T11:52:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T11:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/?p=16396"},"modified":"2026-02-01T11:52:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T11:52:08","slug":"union-budget-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/union-budget-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Budget 2026: Key Announcements, Policy Updates &amp; Market Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_87 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\"><\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/union-budget-2026\/#Key_Highlights_of_Union_Budget_2026\" >Key Highlights of Union Budget 2026<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/union-budget-2026\/#Key_Focus_Areas_of_Budget_2026-27\" >Key Focus Areas of Budget 2026-27<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/union-budget-2026\/#Key_Economic_Data_and_Estimates\" >Key Economic Data and Estimates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/union-budget-2026\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"yoast-breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/\">Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span><a href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/personal-finance\/\">Personal Finance<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span><a href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/personal-finance\/budgeting-and-savings\/\">Budgeting and Savings<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span class=\"breadcrumb_last\" aria-current=\"page\"><strong>Union Budget 2026: Key Announcements, Policy Updates &amp; Market Impact<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All eyes were on Parliament as the Union Budget 2026 was presented on <strong>Sunday, 01 February<\/strong>, a rare first in India\u2019s budgetary history. Presented by the Smt Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance Minister), the budget is anchored in the vision of the \u201c<strong>\u0924\u0940\u0928 \u0915\u0930\u094d\u0924\u0935\u094d\u092f\u201d<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>accelerating economic growth\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fulfilling people\u2019s aspirations through capacity building\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ensuring \u201c<strong><em>Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas<\/em><\/strong><em>\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This blog highlights key points of the Union Budget 2026, explaining what was announced and how it aligns with India\u2019s journey towards a \u201c<strong><em>Viksit Bharat<\/em><\/strong><em>\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Highlights_of_Union_Budget_2026\"><\/span>Key Highlights of Union Budget 2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>GDP growth for FY25 stood at 6.5%, with GVA growth at 6.4%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GDP growth for FY26 (FAE) is estimated at 7.4%, while GVA growth is projected at 7.3%, both revised upward.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The fiscal deficit is projected at 4.3% of GDP for BE 2026\u201327, indicating continued fiscal consolidation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to ease to 55.6% in BE 2026\u201327.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Total government expenditure for 2026\u201327 is estimated at \u20b953.5 lakh crore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus on high-value agriculture, animal husbandry, and farmer income enhancement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Major push for infrastructure and connectivity, including high-speed rail corridors and inland waterways.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emphasis on education, skill development, and employment, with AI-led training initiatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Key tax changes include updates to income tax, STT, buyback taxation, and TCS rates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Focus_Areas_of_Budget_2026-27\"><\/span>Key Focus Areas of Budget 2026-27<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the key budget highlights for 2026-27 you should know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Taxation and Compliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Direct Tax Measures<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Income Tax Act, 2025, will take effect on 1 April 2026, with the aim of simplifying tax language and structure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Personal income tax slabs remain unchanged, ensuring continuity and predictability for taxpayers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The time limit to revise Income Tax Returns (ITR) has been extended up to 31 March of the relevant assessment year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interest on motor accident compensation awards is now fully tax-exempt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/tds-vs-tcs\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/tds-vs-tcs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#d79b30\" class=\"has-inline-color\">TDS and TCS<\/mark><\/a> Changes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>TCS on overseas education and medical remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) has been reduced from 5% to 2%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For the sale of immovable property by NRIs, TDS will now be deducted by the resident buyer, removing the earlier requirement for obtaining a TAN.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Capital Markets and Corporate Taxation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Buyback proceeds will now be taxed as capital gains in the hands of shareholders, instead of being taxed at the company level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An additional buyback tax will apply to promoters:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>22% for corporate promoters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30% for non-corporate promoters<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on commodity futures has been increased from 0.02% to 0.05%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STT on options premium and option exercise has also been increased.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Corporate Tax and Compliance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) will now be treated as final tax, with the rate reduced from 15% to 14%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The safe harbour threshold for IT services has been increased from \u20b9300 crore to \u20b92,000 crore, reducing transfer pricing disputes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A tax holiday till 2047 has been announced for foreign companies offering cloud services by setting up data centres in India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Customs Duties and Trade<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Customs duty exemptions have been extended for goods used in lithium-ion cell manufacturing and critical minerals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The import exemption for nuclear power projects has been extended until 2035.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customs duties have been reduced or exempted on select aircraft parts, EV components, solar inputs, and critical medicines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Read More About: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/india-eu-trade-deal\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/india-eu-trade-deal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#d79b30\" class=\"has-inline-color\">India-EU Trade Agreement<\/mark><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Banking and Financial Sector<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Union Budget 2026\u201327 introduces measures to strengthen banks, deepen capital markets, and improve access to finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A high-level committee will review the banking sector to support future growth and enhance customer safety.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) will be restructured to strengthen financing for the power sector.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A market-making framework will be introduced to improve liquidity in the corporate bond market.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cities issuing municipal bonds above \u20b91,000 crore will receive an incentive of \u20b9100 crore per issuance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Investment limits for Persons Resident Outside India (PROI) have been increased, with the overall cap raised to 24% and per-stock limits to 10%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Manufacturing and Industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Seven strategic and frontier manufacturing sectors have been identified under Make in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Semiconductor Mission 2.0 has received an enhanced outlay of \u20b940,000 crore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A \u20b910,000 crore SME Growth Fund has been announced to support high-potential MSMEs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BioPharma SHAKTI, with an outlay of \u20b910,000 crore, has been launched to strengthen biologics manufacturing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Capital Expenditure&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Public capital expenditure has been increased to \u20b912.2 lakh crore for FY 2026\u201327.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This allocation reinforces the government\u2019s emphasis on infrastructure-led economic growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The higher capex is aimed at crowding in private investment and improving asset creation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Railways and High-Speed Connectivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Seven high-speed rail corridors have been announced as growth connectors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These corridors will link major economic and urban centres across regions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The objective is to improve mobility, reduce travel time, and support regional development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inland Waterways and Coastal Shipping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government plans to operationalise 20 National Waterways over the next five years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme has been announced to shift freight from road and rail to waterways.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The long-term goal is to increase the share of cargo moved by inland waterways and coastal shipping.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Industrial Corridors and Regional Nodes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The East Coast Industrial Corridor will be developed to boost industrial activity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A well-connected industrial node will be established in Durgapur.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This corridor aims to strengthen logistics, manufacturing, and regional employment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Urban Infrastructure and Mobility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>City Economic Regions (CERs) will be developed as city-led growth hubs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each CER will receive \u20b95,000 crore over five years to support planned urban development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>4,000 electric buses will be deployed to promote clean and sustainable urban transport.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Infrastructure Financing Support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A new Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund has been announced.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The fund is aimed at reducing project risk and encouraging private sector participation in infrastructure projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Agriculture and Rural Economy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The budget focuses on increasing farmer incomes through productivity enhancement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High-value crops such as coconut, cocoa, cashew, and sandalwood will be promoted in coastal regions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agarwood in the North-East and nut crops in hilly regions will receive targeted support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Coconut Promotion Scheme has been introduced to improve competitiveness and production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bharat Vistar, a multilingual <a href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/sensai-shoonya\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/sensai-shoonya\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#d79b30\" class=\"has-inline-color\">AI platform<\/mark><\/a>, will provide farmers with integrated digital advisory support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Animal Husbandry and Allied Activities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Entrepreneurship in animal husbandry will be supported through credit-linked subsidy programmes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Livestock enterprises will be scaled up and modernised.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dairy, poultry, and livestock value chains will be strengthened.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Livestock pharmaceutical producer organisations will be encouraged.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Education, Skills, and Employment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Education, employment, and enterprise have been identified as core drivers of <em>Viksit Bharat<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The budget targets a 10% global share in the services sector by 2047.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI will be integrated into skill development programmes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Five university townships will be developed as planned academic zones.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ABGC content creator labs will be set up in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A National Institute of Design will be established in eastern India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Healthcare, Wellness, and AYUSH<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government plans to add 1 lakh Allied Health Professionals over five years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access to mental health and trauma care will be expanded.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical tourism will be promoted with private sector participation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An All-India Institute of Ayurveda will be established.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AYUSH pharmacies and testing labs will be upgraded.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar will be strengthened.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tourism, Culture, and Sports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The National Council for Hotel Management will be upgraded to a National Institute of Hospitality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10,000 tourist guides will be trained across 20 iconic destinations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will document cultural and heritage sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Khelo India Mission will strengthen talent development, coaching, and sports infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Economic_Data_and_Estimates\"><\/span>Key Economic Data and Estimates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">India\u2019s GDP growth stood at 6.5% in FY25, reflecting sustained economic momentum. Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices grew by 6.4% in FY25, indicating broad-based activity across sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As per the First Advance Estimates (FAE) for FY26,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>GDP growth is projected at 7.4%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GVA growth is estimated at 7.3%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sector-wise Contribution to Nominal GDP<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Sector<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>FY25 (%)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>FY26 (%) \u2013 FAE<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry &amp; Fishing<\/td><td>16.3<\/td><td><strong>15.2<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Core Industries<\/td><td>24.6<\/td><td><strong>24.3<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Services<\/td><td>49.9<\/td><td><strong>51.1<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Industry-wise Contribution to Nominal GDP<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Core Industry<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>FY25 (%)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>FY26 (%) \u2013 FAE<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mining &amp; Quarrying<\/td><td>1.6<\/td><td>1.4<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td>12.6<\/td><td>12.8<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Electricity, Gas, Water &amp; Other Utilities<\/td><td>2.4<\/td><td>2.3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Construction<\/td><td>7.9<\/td><td>7.8<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Service-wise Contribution to Nominal GDP<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Services Sub-sector<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>FY25 (%)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>FY26 (%) \u2013 FAE<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication &amp; Broadcasting<\/td><td>15.9<\/td><td>15.8<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Financial, Real Estate &amp; Professional Services<\/td><td>20.8<\/td><td>21.4<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Public Administration, Defence &amp; Other Services<\/td><td>13.2<\/td><td>13.8<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tax Collection&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Revenue collections show consistent growth, supporting fiscal stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Personal income tax collections grew by 6.8% year-on-year up to November 2025.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Corporate tax collections increased by 7.8% year-on-year during the same period.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GST collections between April and December 2025 reached an all-time high of \u20b917.4 lakh crore, registering 6.7% year-on-year growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With sustained emphasis on infrastructure, targeted sectoral support, financial system strengthening, and measured tax reforms, the Union budget 2026 sets the direction for the year ahead while keeping long-term national goals in sight. Together, these measures reinforce India\u2019s path towards a Viksit Bharat amid evolving global and domestic conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong>https:\/\/economictimes.indiatimes.com\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#d79b30\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Disclaimer<\/mark>: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks; read all the related documents carefully before investing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All eyes were on Parliament as the Union Budget 2026 was presented on Sunday, 01 February, a rare first in India\u2019s budgetary history. Presented by the Smt Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance Minister), the budget is anchored in the vision of the \u201c\u0924\u0940\u0928 \u0915\u0930\u094d\u0924\u0935\u094d\u092f\u201d:\u00a0 This blog highlights key points of the Union Budget 2026, explaining what was &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/union-budget-2026\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Union Budget 2026: Key Announcements, Policy Updates &amp; Market Impact&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":16401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[3232],"tags":[9178,9233,9232,9235,3918,9236,9231,2737,9234,6599,6598,9230],"class_list":["post-16396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budgeting-and-savings","tag-budget-2026","tag-budget-2026-date","tag-budget-highlights-2026","tag-budget-time-today","tag-income-tax-slabs","tag-income-tax-union-budget","tag-india-union-budget","tag-new-income-tax-slab","tag-stock-market-on-budget-day","tag-tax-calculator","tag-tax-exemption","tag-union-budget-2026"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Union Budget 2026: Policies, Tax Updates, and Key Sectors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understand the major announcements of the Union Budget 2026, including policy decisions, taxation changes, and sector-wise measures.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/union-budget-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Union Budget 2026: Policies, Tax Updates, and Key Sectors\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Understand the major announcements of the Union Budget 2026, including policy decisions, taxation changes, and sector-wise measures.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/union-budget-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ShoonyaApp\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-01T11:52:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-01T11:52:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Budget-2026.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"atulrana\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Union Budget 2026: Policies, Tax Updates, and Key Sectors\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Understand the major announcements of the Union Budget 2026, including policy decisions, taxation changes, and sector-wise measures.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/shoonya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Budget-2026.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@shoonyaapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@shoonyaapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"atulrana\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/shoonya.com\\\/blog\\\/union-budget-2026\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/shoonya.com\\\/blog\\\/union-budget-2026\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"atulrana\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/shoonya.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/753b3e2352dc2915e7069273091f9124\"},\"headline\":\"Union Budget 2026: Key Announcements, Policy Updates &amp; 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