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Budget 2026: The wait is finally over for millions of Indians. The country's financial accounts are set to be unveiled in Parliament today. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha at 11 AM this morning. This moment will be historic in itself, as Nirmala Sitharaman will set a new record by presenting her 9th consecutive budget as Finance Minister. Before heading to Parliament, she will visit Rashtrapati Bhavan to brief President Droupadi Murmu on the budget, after which it will be formally approved at a meeting of the Union Cabinet. Every segment of society, be it salaried employees, farmers, or traders, will be closely watching this speech, which is expected to last for about an hour and a half.

What will the common man gain?
The biggest question on everyone's mind is whether there will be any tax relief this time. According to sources, significant relief on the income tax front is unlikely. However, the government may announce measures to make the National Pension Scheme (NPS) more attractive, which could be good news for those planning for retirement. Additionally, a provision for tax exemption on investments in Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWP) for ordinary investors is also possible.

Given the ongoing volatility in the stock market, the government may consider providing some relief on Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) and Securities Transaction Tax (STT) to prevent outflows from foreign investors (FII/FPI). However, those buying gold and silver may face a setback, as there are strong speculations in the market about an increase in import duty.

New trains likely
This budget could prove to be quite significant for rail passengers. There is speculation that the government may propose the introduction of around 50 new trains. These include new Vande Bharat, Vande Bharat Sleeper, and Amrit Bharat trains. Not only new trains, but the government will also focus heavily on safety. The budget allocation for 'Kavach 4.0' to prevent train accidents and for track safety may be increased. To boost the tourism sector, the ‘Incredible India 3.0’ campaign is likely to be announced, focusing on attracting international tourists to India. Additionally, the roadmap for the next phase of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, which aims to make air travel accessible to the common man, may also be unveiled.

Blueprint for Technology
A major theme of this budget will be ‘indigenization’ and ‘self-reliance’. A significant increase in the defense budget is expected to modernize the armed forces and reduce dependence on foreign countries for weapons. In the technology sector, the government may open its coffers for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep tech startups. Emphasis will be placed on infrastructure for large data centers. To promote manufacturing, the scope of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for mobile phones and electronic components may be expanded. New schemes and incentives for drone manufacturing may also be announced.

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