Overview
- The Rajya Sabha returned the Finance Bill by voice vote on Friday, completing Parliament’s approval so Budget 2026–27 provisions take effect from April 1.
- The plan sets total spending at Rs 53.47 lakh crore for FY27 with Rs 12.2 lakh crore for capital projects to drive transport upgrades, including seven high‑speed freight corridors and a new corridor at Dankuni in West Bengal.
- The government targets a fiscal deficit of 4.3% of GDP in FY27 and pegs gross market borrowing at Rs 17.2 lakh crore with net dated borrowing at Rs 11.7 lakh crore.
- Targeted outlays include Rs 40,000 crore for electronics manufacturing, Rs 40,000 crore for semiconductors, Rs 10,000 crore for bio‑pharma, a Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, about Rs 5.95 lakh crore for defence, and roughly Rs 1.05 lakh crore for healthcare.
- Tax and market steps keep income‑tax slabs unchanged, extend the ITR deadline for non‑audit businesses to August 31, and raise the securities transaction tax to 0.05% on futures and 0.15% on options premium.