Union Budget

States’ capex holds key to growth momentum

February 20, 2026 7:38 am

The analysis of key indicators of 18 major states (which comprise 89 per cent of India’s GDP) for the first nine months of 2025-26 suggests that actual revenues and expenditures will be lower than budgeted levels. But, encouragingly, states’ capital spending is expected to report a healthy expansion

ExplainSpeaking: Do the govt’s Budget priorities align with Indian economy’s needs?

February 19, 2026 4:40 pm

This edition of ExplainSpeaking examines India’s Budget data and allocations to several key ministries — and their relative shares in the total government spending — to understand the policy priorities of the incumbent government and how they align with the key concerns that dominate news.

The future of education is interconnected. The budget recognises that

February 19, 2026 7:43 am

The Budget recognises that the relationship between education and employment can no longer be viewed as linear or static

India-US deal strengthens India’s AI future, but there are trade-offs

February 16, 2026 12:34 pm

If environmental costs and community displacement remain externalised, AI infrastructure could replicate earlier development models where economic gains were national but ecological and social burdens remained local

Cabinet approves Rs 1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund to force cities to 'earn' their own growth

February 15, 2026 4:01 am

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that a “wide range of cities” would be covered by the fund. The investment is envisaged over 5 years. 

Budget cautious, forgetful of the past, reform express stuck: Chidambaram in Rajya Sabha

February 10, 2026 6:29 am

Initiating the discussion on the Union Budget 2026-2027 in the Rajya Sabha, Chidambaram said at a time when public, private and foreign investors were “not investing” in India, the government had cut capital expenditure in 2025-2026 by Rs 1.44 lakh crore.

P Chidambaram writes: A critique Survey useful, Budget lazy

February 08, 2026 4:15 pm

My charitable view is that the Finance Minister and the government do not care for the Economic Survey. The uncharitable view is they think we are inhabiting a planet that is not part of the solar system

Surjit Bhalla writes: The Budget has delivered a googly — the retrospective tax

February 07, 2026 5:57 am

Besides being greedy and unfair, retrospective taxes should also be illegal; the government is being petty and counterproductive

High capex to sustain growth, private investment also coming: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

February 06, 2026 2:24 am

The Finance Minister also defended the Budget move to tax capital gains on sovereign gold bonds in the secondary market.

Foreign patients drive 7-8% revenue: Why Delhi-NCR hospitals are cheering Budget announcement on promoting medical tourism

February 05, 2026 3:51 pm

The NCR with its dense cluster of large corporate hospitals, international airports, and long experience in handling overseas patients is already an established centre for international healthcare.

Union Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman's sarees over the years

February 01, 2026 11:47 am

Take a look at the iconic sarees Nirmala Sitharaman has worn during the presentation of Union Budget over the years.

Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s 6th Budget in a row, months ahead of Lok Sabha polls

February 01, 2024 10:36 am

Union Budget 2024 (Interim) in PHOTOS: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim Budget today, months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Parliamentarians meet and greet on opening day of Budget session

January 31, 2023 8:58 pm

Budget 2016-17: What's become cheap, what's become costly

March 01, 2016 1:08 pm

Here is a complete list of items that will turn costly and items that will turn cheap as a result of the Union Budget 2016-17 tabled on Monday by FM Arun Jaitley.

Budget 2014-15: The build-up

June 26, 2014 3:34 pm

The Narendra Modi led-NDA government is likely to table the Union Budget in July.

Explained: Here's how the Modi govt budgeted for elections

June 22, 2020 6:03 pm

Budget 2019: Indian Express Rural Affairs Editor Harish Damodaran and Consulting Editor Shaji Vikraman take a deep dive and explain fine prints of the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in Lok Sabha today.

Budget 2019: India shouldn't take protectionist steps like raising customs duties

June 22, 2020 6:04 pm

Saloni Roy, Senior Director, Deloitte India (Indirect Tax) says that she hopes that India won't raise customs duties in the Vote on Account on February 1 since it would mean taking a more protectionist stance.

To boost Make in India, Budget 2019 shouldn't raise customs duties

June 22, 2020 6:04 pm

Saloni Roy, Senior Director, Deloitte India (Indirect Tax) says that measures other than customs duties should be used to provide a boost to the Make in India campaign.

Budget 2019 may not make many changes to customs duties

June 22, 2020 6:04 pm

Description:Saloni Roy, Senior Director, Deloitte India (Indirect Tax) says that not many changes are expected to be announced in customs duties since it is a Vote on Account.

Supreme Court Seeks Legal Provisions That Bars Budget Presentation Before Assembly Polls

June 22, 2020 7:14 pm

Petrol price reduced, diesel hiked

March 01, 2016 3:48 am

New Delhi, Mar 01 (ANI): The government on Monday lowered the price of petrol by Rs 3.02 per litre while the price of diesel was raised by Rs 1.47 per litre. The revised prices will take effect from the midnight of February 29 and March 1. The revision in fuel prices comes on a day when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Union Budget for 2015-16 in the Parliament. With this change, the price of Petrol in Delhi will become Rs. 56.61/litre while diesel will be available at Rs. 46.43/litre. People across the nation welcomed the reduction of petrol price, and hoped for further reduction in fuel price.