{"id":25363,"date":"2026-02-01T11:58:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T11:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/?post_type=personal-finance&#038;p=25363"},"modified":"2026-02-01T11:58:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T11:58:03","slug":"union-budget-2026","status":"publish","type":"personal-finance","link":"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Budget 2026 Highlights: Key Announcements, Tax, Capex &amp; Sectors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament on February 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM, marking her ninth consecutive budget presentation. Her budget speech lasted approximately 85 to 90 minutes, during which she clearly outlined the country&#8217;s economic direction and the government&#8217;s priorities. This budget was not merely a presentation of figures, but was also linked to the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main focus of this budget was on economic growth, increasing investment, maintaining fiscal stability, strengthening the manufacturing sector, the MSME sector, and healthcare services. The government aims to create new employment opportunities while maintaining the stability of the country&#8217;s economy and strengthening India&#8217;s position on the global stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Union Budget 2026 is extremely important for ordinary citizens, businesses, investors, states, and the entire economy, as it sets the direction for policies and expenditures for the coming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Union_Budget_2026_Key_Highlights\" title=\"Union Budget 2026: Key Highlights\">Union Budget 2026: Key Highlights<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Income_Tax_Direct_Tax_Announcements\" title=\"Income Tax &amp; Direct Tax Announcements\">Income Tax &amp; Direct Tax Announcements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Healthcare_Pharma_Focus\" title=\"Healthcare &amp; Pharma Focus\">Healthcare &amp; Pharma Focus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Infrastructure_Push_Rail_Freight_Cities\" title=\"Infrastructure Push: Rail, Freight &amp; Cities\">Infrastructure Push: Rail, Freight &amp; Cities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Manufacturing_Technology_Focus_From_Chips_to_Textiles\" title=\"Manufacturing &amp; Technology Focus: From Chips to Textiles\">Manufacturing &amp; Technology Focus: From Chips to Textiles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Rare_Earth_Clean_Energy_Corridors\" title=\"Rare Earth &amp; Clean Energy Corridors\">Rare Earth &amp; Clean Energy Corridors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#MSMEs_Employment_Generation\" title=\"MSMEs &amp; Employment Generation\">MSMEs &amp; Employment Generation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Tourism_Culture_Sports_Development\" title=\"Tourism, Culture &amp; Sports Development\">Tourism, Culture &amp; Sports Development<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-api.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-union-budget-2026-key-highlights\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Union_Budget_2026_Key_Highlights\"><\/span>Union Budget 2026: Key Highlights<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table has-small-font-size\"><table><thead><tr><th>Key areas \/ indicators<\/th><th>Budget 2026 announced<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Public capital expenditure (Public Capex)<\/td><td>\u20b912.2 lakh crore for the financial year 2026\u201327.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fiscal Deficit<\/td><td>4.4% of GDP<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Debt-to-GDP ratio<\/td><td>55.6%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Income tax slabs<\/td><td>No changes were made.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cancer medications<\/td><td>No changes were made.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>High-speed rail corridor<\/td><td>Seven new high-speed rail corridors will be built in the country.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Semiconductor Mission<\/td><td>The launch of ISM 2.0, with a budget of \u20b940,000 crore.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MSME Growth Fund<\/td><td>A new fund of \u20b910,000 crore for small industries.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Rare Earth Corridor<\/td><td>Special corridors in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bio-Pharma Power Plan<\/td><td>A new scheme has been launched with an investment of \u20b910,000 crore.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Carbon Capture Fund<\/td><td>\u20b920,000 crore for the steel and cement sectors.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The share received by the states<\/td><td>\u20b914 lakh crore (41% of total tax transfers)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Electronics Manufacturing<\/td><td>The budget has been increased to \u20b940,000 crore.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Textile Park<\/td><td>Large mega textile parks will be built in the country.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Freight Corridor<\/td><td>New freight train corridor from Dankuni (West Bengal) to Surat<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ayurvedic AIIMS<\/td><td>3 new Ayurvedic AIIMS will be established.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Medical tourism<\/td><td>Five regional medical tourism hubs will be created.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Women&#8217;s entrepreneurship<\/td><td>The launch of SHE (Self Help Entrepreneur) stores.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Urban development<\/td><td>\u20b95000 crore per city (over 5 years) for City Economic Regions.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coastal Cargo Scheme<\/td><td>Increase the share of waterways and coastal shipping from 6% to 12% (by 2047).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Developed India Goal<\/td><td>All schemes are linked to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-income-tax-amp-direct-tax-announcements\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Income_Tax_Direct_Tax_Announcements\"><\/span>Income Tax &amp; Direct Tax Announcements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Union Budget 2026, the government has focused on simplifying and streamlining the tax system rather than changing tax rates. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clearly stated that there have been no changes to the income tax slabs this year, but the rules and procedures have been simplified for the convenience of taxpayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>No Change in Income Tax Slabs : <\/strong>The income tax slabs have been kept unchanged in Budget 2026. The government believes that maintaining stability in tax rates is better than making changes in the current economic climate. This will ensure fiscal discipline and allow for continued spending on development-related schemes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tax Filing Process Simplified : <\/strong>For the convenience of taxpayers, the deadline for filing revised returns has been extended from December 31st to March 31st. Additionally, rules related to TDS on property sales for NRIs have been simplified, and the deadlines for filing returns for different categories have been clarified to avoid confusion for taxpayers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Relief in TCS on Foreign Expenditure : <\/strong>The Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on remittances for foreign travel, education, and medical treatment has been reduced to 2 percent. This will provide direct relief to students, patients, and other individuals traveling abroad, reducing their additional expenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Foreign Asset Declaration Scheme : <\/strong>This budget introduces a six-month foreign asset declaration scheme. This scheme is specifically for individuals who have lived abroad for education or work and may have inadvertently failed to properly declare their tax-related information. They can now declare their foreign assets and regularize their tax status.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-healthcare-amp-pharma-focus\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Healthcare_Pharma_Focus\"><\/span>Healthcare &amp; Pharma Focus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Relief on Cancer Medicines : <\/strong>Customs duty has been completely waived on 17 cancer medicines. In addition, import duties have been exempted on medicines and medical food used in the treatment of 7 rare diseases, making treatment more affordable for patients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>New Medical Institutions : <\/strong>Three new Ayurvedic AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) will be established in the country. A proposal has been made for the establishment of NIMHANS-II to strengthen mental health services in North India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bio-Pharma Shakti Scheme : <\/strong>A \u201cBio-Pharma Shakti\u201d scheme with an outlay of \u20b910,000 crore has been launched to promote the bio-pharma sector. Its objective is to strengthen research, drug manufacturing, and innovation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Medical Tourism : <\/strong>Five regional medical tourism centers will be established to make India a medical tourism hub.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read Also: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pocketful.in\/blog\/personal-finance\/union-budget-2026-expectations\/\">Union Budget 2026 Expectations: Tax Relief, Sector Boosts &amp; Market Impact<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-infrastructure-push-rail-freight-amp-cities\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Infrastructure_Push_Rail_Freight_Cities\"><\/span>Infrastructure Push: Rail, Freight &amp; Cities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Union Budget 2026, the government has prioritized the infrastructure sector to accelerate connectivity and urban development. New high-speed rail corridors, freight networks, and the development of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities will directly benefit trade, employment, and regional economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"h-1-high-speed-rail-and-freight-corridors\">1. High-Speed \u200b\u200bRail and Freight Corridors <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The country plans to build seven high-speed rail corridors to facilitate faster travel between major industrial and IT cities and boost trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Routes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mumbai \u2013 Pune<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pune \u2013 Hyderabad<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hyderabad \u2013 Bengaluru<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bengaluru \u2013 Chennai<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to this, a new dedicated freight corridor will be built from Dankuni in West Bengal to Surat in Gujarat. This will expedite freight movement and reduce logistics costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"h-2-investment-in-cities\">2. Investment in Cities <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The government aims to develop Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as new economic hubs. City Economic Regions (CERs) will be created for this purpose, with each region receiving approximately \u20b95000 crore in investment over the next five years. The objective is to strengthen road, transport, and trade infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-manufacturing-amp-technology-focus-from-chips-to-textiles\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Manufacturing_Technology_Focus_From_Chips_to_Textiles\"><\/span>Manufacturing &amp; Technology Focus: From Chips to Textiles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The government has launched the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 with a budget of \u20b940,000 crore to accelerate chip manufacturing and research. The outlay for electronics manufacturing, including mobile phones and electronic components, has also been increased to \u20b940,000 crore. In addition, large-scale mega textile parks, container manufacturing units, and chemical parks will be established through a challenge-based approach, which will boost employment and strengthen domestic industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"h-key-announcements\">Key announcements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table has-small-font-size\"><table><thead><tr><th>Area<\/th><th>Announcement<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Semiconductor<\/td><td>India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 &#8211; \u20b940,000 crore<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Electronics<\/td><td>Manufacturing outlay: \u20b940,000 crore<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Textile<\/td><td>Mega Textile Park<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Industry<\/td><td>Container manufacturing units<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chemical sector<\/td><td>New Chemical Park (Challenge Route)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rare-earth-amp-clean-energy-corridors\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rare_Earth_Clean_Energy_Corridors\"><\/span>Rare Earth &amp; Clean Energy Corridors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2026 budget places a strong emphasis on rare earth minerals and clean energy to strengthen the EV and renewable energy supply chains. The aim is to make India self-reliant in future technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"h-rare-earth-corridor-state-wise\">Rare Earth Corridor (State-wise)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table has-small-font-size\"><table><thead><tr><th>State<\/th><th>Initiative<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Odisha<\/td><td>Rare Earth Corridor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kerala<\/td><td>Rare Earth Corridor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tamil Nadu<\/td><td>Rare Earth Corridor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Andhra Pradesh<\/td><td>Rare Earth Corridor<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"h-important-announcements-related-to-clean-energy\">Important announcements related to clean energy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Exemption from customs duty on raw materials for sunglasses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customs duty exemption on products of lithium-ion battery companies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A fund of \u20b920,000 crore for carbon capture in the steel and related sectors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-msmes-amp-employment-generation\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MSMEs_Employment_Generation\"><\/span>MSMEs &amp; Employment Generation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Several practical steps have been announced to strengthen MSMEs, women&#8217;s entrepreneurship, and skill development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table has-small-font-size\"><table><thead><tr><th>Initiative<\/th><th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>MSME Growth Fund<\/td><td>A fund of \u20b910,000 crore has been created to enable small industries to expand and create new jobs.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>SHE Stores<\/td><td>Community-owned retail stores for women, where they can sell their products.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>ICAI and ICSI Support<\/td><td>Short-term modular courses that provide young people with industry-ready skills.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative<\/td><td>Scheme to promote rural industries, khadi and handicrafts.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tourism-culture-amp-sports-development\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tourism_Culture_Sports_Development\"><\/span>Tourism, Culture &amp; Sports Development<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Budget 2026 emphasizes connecting the tourism and sports sectors with employment generation and regional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"h-key-announcements-0\">Key Announcements &#8211;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National Institute of Hospitality :<\/strong> A national institute will be established for the tourism and hospitality sector to strengthen skill development and training.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Development of Buddhist Circuit :<\/strong> Buddhist circuits will be developed in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, and Tripura, promoting religious tourism and boosting the local economy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bird Watching Trails :<\/strong> Bird-watching trails will be created in the Pulicat Lake region of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to promote eco-tourism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Khelo India Mission (10-year roadmap) : <\/strong>A plan to nurture sporting talent over the next 10 years, focusing on training centers, sports science, and infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Big Cat Summit : <\/strong>India will host the Global Big Cat Summit for the first time, with representatives from approximately 95 countries participating.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Medical Tourism Hubs :<\/strong> Five regional medical tourism hubs will be established in the country to develop India as an affordable and reliable medical treatment destination.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Union Budget 2026 is a budget focused on accelerating growth, strengthening manufacturing, and prioritizing healthcare. Its vision is clearly aligned with the goal of a developed India by 2047 (Viksit Bharat 2047). The government has pushed for increased investment in infrastructure, industry, and social sectors while maintaining a balance between growth and fiscal discipline. Overall, this budget can be considered a solid step towards long-term economic stability and inclusive development. Stay updated with the latest market information &#8211; download <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pocketful.in\/\">Pocketful<\/a> and begin your investing journey with zero brokerage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-faqs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"saswp-faq-block-section\"><ol style=\"list-style-type:none\"><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h3 class=\"\">Is there any change in Income Tax slabs in Budget 2026?<\/h3><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">No, there are no changes to the income tax slabs in Budget 2026.<\/p><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h3 class=\"\">What relief is given to cancer patients in Budget 2026?<\/h3><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">Customs duty has been completely removed on 17 cancer medicines, which will make treatment cheaper.<\/p><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h3 class=\"\">How many new high-speed rail corridors are announced?<\/h3><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">7 new high-speed rail corridors have been announced in Budget 2026.<\/p><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h3 class=\"\">What is the total capital expenditure (Capex) for FY 2026-27?<\/h3><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">The government has allocated \u20b912.2 lakh crore for capital expenditure in FY 2026-27.<\/p><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h3 class=\"\">What is Biopharma Shakti Yojana?<\/h3><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">This is a \u20b910,000 crore scheme under which 3 new institutions will be opened for biopharma research and manufacturing.<\/p><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament on February 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM, marking her ninth consecutive budget presentation. Her budget speech lasted approximately 85 to 90 minutes, during which she clearly outlined the country&#8217;s economic direction and the government&#8217;s priorities. This budget was not merely a presentation of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":25370,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25363","personal-finance","type-personal-finance","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-finance"],"acf":{"freelancer":"Harjyot"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.13 (Yoast SEO v21.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Union Budget 2026 Highlights: Key Announcements, Tax, Capex &amp; Sectors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read the major highlights of Union Budget 2026, including capital expenditure, tax updates, infrastructure push, MSME support, healthcare reforms, and growth plans.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Union Budget 2026 Highlights: Key Announcements, Tax, Capex &amp; 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