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Chapter 2 — Economy
Economy

India's Union Budget 2026-27: From Aspiration to Achievement

Finance Minister presented her ninth consecutive Budget with ₹53.5 Lakh Crore expenditure, capital expenditure up 9%, fiscal deficit at 4.3% GDP.

SB
Mr. Srikant Badiga
Group Director Phoenix, Chairman EPCES, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India
February 2026 · 10 min

On February 1, 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget.

We have pursued far-reaching structural reforms, fiscal prudence and monetary stability whilst maintaining a strong thrust on public investment.

Fiscal Overview

Total Expenditure: ₹53.5 Lakh Crore. Capital Expenditure: ₹12.2 Lakh Crore (+9%). Fiscal deficit target: 4.3% GDP. Debt-to-GDP target: 50% by 2031.

Key Initiatives

Biopharma SHAKTI with ₹10,000 crore. ISM 2.0 for semiconductor IP. Electronics expanded to ₹40,000 crore. Defence at ₹7.84 lakh crore (+15%).

Tax Reforms

New Income Tax Act effective April 1, 2026. MAT reduced to 14%. ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund.

BudgetIndiaFiscal PolicyEconomy

Discussion

1 comment
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Shakeel Dhada Mar 18, 2026
Fiscal discipline alongside 9% capex growth shows mature macroeconomic management.
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