Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Union Budget is set to break with long-standing convention, with Part B of her Budget speech emerging as the main platform for outlining India’s economic vision and reform agenda, according to the reports.
Union Budget 2026: FM announces Customs duty exemptions, new biopharma initiatives
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Union Budget is set to break with long-standing convention, with Part B of her Budget speech emerging as the main platform for outlining India’s economic vision and reform agenda, according to the reports
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 on Sunday in Lok Sabha. This was the ninth consecutive budget that Nirmala Sitharaman presented in the Parliament. Today’s Budget presentation broke with long-standing convention, with Part B of her Budget speech emerging as the main platform for outlining India’s economic vision and reform agenda, according to the reports.
After taking oath on May 31 2019 under PM Modi’s leadership, Sitharaman’s tenure as finance minister has spanned 6 years and 8 months. She presented her maiden budget on July 5, 2019 and also holds the record for delivering the longest budget speech when she spoke for 2hrs and 42mins, while presenting the Union Budget for the 2020-21 financial year on February 1, 2020.
Union Budget 2026 IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS
Live Updates
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Feb 2, 2026 2:54 PM IST Adrija Agarwal, VP Business Development, Sattva Group
“The focus on infrastructure spending has a real ripple effect. Better connectivity improves ease of travel, enables more efficient sharing of resources, and leads to stronger utilisation across manufacturing and infrastructure. This helps accelerate consumption and creates a more balanced economy.
The scale of the capex push reflects fiscal prudence and a long-term, structural approach to growth. The push to strengthen the service economy through supportive tax structures for data centres and Global Capability Centres will build growth momentum, accelerate value creation, and reinforce India’s position as a preferred destination for global enterprises.”
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Feb 2, 2026 2:53 PM IST “The Union Budget 2026 unveils a visionary, decade‑long Khelo India Mission, backed by a significantly larger sports budget and strategic infrastructure investments to make India a global sporting powerhouse. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ allocation jumped to Rs 4,479.88 crore, including a historic Rs 500 crore for the sports goods sector and targeted capital for state‑of‑the‑art training centres, competition stadia, and support facilities. By integrating sports science, nurturing coaches and developing eco‑friendly infrastructure linked to leagues and grassroots hubs, the mission will create direct employment and skill opportunities across sectors. With India gearing up for the 100th Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, this budget turns aspiration into structured growth and jobs.”
– NASIR ALI, CEO and Founder Gallant Sports and Infra
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Feb 2, 2026 2:53 PM IST Sudhir Kothari, MD & CEO, Embee Software
“Union Budget 2026 delivers a decisive boost to India’s IT sector by expanding safe harbour thresholds from ₹300 crore to ₹2,000 crore and standardising margins at 15.5%. This long-awaited reform brings much-needed tax certainty, reduces prolonged transfer-pricing disputes, and eases compliance for mid-sized and large IT services firms alike. By simplifying regulations and promoting automated, transparent assessment mechanisms, the government has reinforced its commitment to a stable and predictable policy environment. These measures will enhance global investor confidence, enable IT companies to focus on innovation and scaling, and further strengthen India’s position as a trusted, competitive hub for digital services in an increasingly interconnected global economy.”
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