Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a significant increase in allocation for the education sector, focusing on last-mile broadband connectivity in rural schools that were worst hit by insufficient internet coverage during Covid. Infrastructure expansion for IITs, medical education and AI in learning were also among the Budget highlights.The digital push is expected to boost broadband…
In presenting the Union Budget for 2025-26, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman would seem to have managed the envious task of giving out generously to the taxpayer while remaining fiscally responsible and prudent.How has she managed to do this?The short answer is that it has been achieved partly through curbing ambition in spending to create assets…
Nirmala Sitharaman’s 8th consecutive Budget – a record – bets on a consumption expenditure boost from tax giveaways, the largest ever in absolute terms, and yet banks on a big jump in income tax revenue to lower the fiscal deficit. The Budget was clearly a response to the govt sensing middle class angst. The FM…
A Budget is as much a political as an economic exercise. And you didn’t need to look any farther than this one for evidence.Delhi votes on Wednesday, Bihar in Oct or Nov this year. The Budget has gone the extra nine yards to woo them. For Delhi – India’s richest city by per capita income…
Lakshmi did smile for middle classes, as strongly hinted by Modi a day before the Budget. To understand the politics behind FM’s Rs 1 lakh crore giveaway in personal income tax revenue, you must not only look at the immediate electoral logic – Delhi, with a large taxpayer base, votes on Wednesday – but also…
Ahead of PM Modi’s visit to the US, the Budget seems to have paved the way for ‘Harley diplomacy’ with import duty on bikes slashed – a move that will benefit the iconic American motorcycle.With President Trump threatening higher tariffs against countries, including India, the Centre signalled a change in headline duty for imported cars,…
A higher tax exemption limit, a revamped central KYC system and the govt’s greater emphasis towards ‘ease of doing business’ in an expected lower interest rate regime are likely to boost investments into mutual funds, directly or through the systematic investment plan (SIP) route, fund industry players said.“The rollout of the revamped Central KYC registry…
The Budget proposals met with muted response from investors on Dalal Street during Saturday’s special trading session, although there were stock and sector specific movements. After some volatility during the FM’s Budget speech, the sensex and Nifty both treaded a steady path and closed barely changed. Sensex was up just five points at 77,506 points,…
The new tax regime proposed in Budget – with a tax rebate of Rs 60,000 on income up to Rs 12 lakh (and Rs 12.75 lakh for salaried people) – leaves the old tax regime, with three slabs of 5%, 20%, an 30%, with little appeal, even with all the deductions against investments in tax…
On Budget-eve, PM Modi invoked Goddess Lakshmi, and a day later, Indian taxpayers got a Diwali bonus in February. With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing revised tax slabs and rates under the new regime, the biggest bonanza is for those whose income is up to Rs 12 lakh (Rs 12.75 lakh for salaried taxpayers as…
