The Times of India

Over the last two sessions, silver has declined by a cumulative Rs 1,34,241, translating into a fall of 33.6%. On a weekly basis, the metal has dropped by nearly 21%, or Rs 69,047, from its level of Rs 3,34,699 per kg recorded on January 23.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed surprise regarding any potential merger talks between NCP factions, stating Ajit Pawar always confided in him. This follows Sharad Pawar's claim that Ajit Pawar had set February 12 for a merger announcement. Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, was recently sworn in as Deputy CM.

Expatriates in the UAE are finding a remittance opportunity as the Indian rupee, Pakistani rupee and Philippine peso weaken against the UAE dirham. This allows workers to send more value home per dirham. While advantageous, financial advisors suggest a strategic approach like splitting transfers to navigate currency market volatility and maximise benefits.

Bitcoins early years read like financial folklore. Launched in 2009 as a fringe experiment, it was dismissed, ignored, or casually spent. Yet tiny sums once worth dollars would today equal millions or billions. From lost hard drives to legendary pizza purchases, Bitcoins history is defined less by complexity than by scale, and how easily it was missed.

Cigarette prices have surged by Rs 22-25 per pack of 10 following a new excise duty regime, the first tax hike in seven years. This move aligns India's tobacco taxation with global health standards. Premium cigarettes will see significant price increases, with distributors anticipating new MRPs from Monday. Concerns about smuggling and counterfeit products are rising.

As the Union Budget 2026-27 rolled out, Uttar Pradesh's political figures showcased strikingly different perspectives. Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister, embraced the budget as a vehicle for welfare, promoting a prosperous future for India that uplifts youth, farmers, and businesses alike.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a significant boost for healthcare in the Union Budget, announcing five new regional medical hubs and a Rs 1,000 crore allocation for Allied Healthcare Professionals. The budget also prioritizes geriatric care, training 1.5 lakh caregivers, and increases funding for key programs like the National Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat.

Prime Minister Modi lauded the Union Budget 2026-27 as historic, outlining a roadmap for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and boosting India's reform agenda. The budget, presented by Finance Minister Sitharaman, prioritizes infrastructure and manufacturing with increased capital expenditure, while opposition parties criticized it as lacking substance and ignoring key national crises.

I propose setting up a 'High Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat', to comprehensively review the sector and align it with India's next phase of growth, while safeguarding financial stability, inclusion and consumer protection, she said, in her 90-minute-long Budget speech.

Starting April 1, 2026, India will see increased Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options trading. The Finance Minister announced higher rates for options premium, exercise, and futures, aiming to moderate speculative activity. This change, part of Budget 2026, will slightly raise trading costs for derivatives participants, while equity and mutual fund STT rates remain untouched.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the government's Viksit Bharat vision for Non-Banking Financial Companies, setting clear targets for credit expansion and technology adoption. Key public sector NBFCs like Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation will be restructured to boost efficiency. This initiative, alongside a banking sector review, aims to strengthen India's financial system for sustained reform-led growth.

Union Budget 2026 maintains the existing income tax framework, with the new regime offering tax-free income up to Rs 12 lakh for individuals. While the old regime continues with its deductions, the new system has been progressively liberalized since 2020, making it increasingly attractive for middle-income taxpayers.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27, her ninth consecutive, with major announcements across defence, railways, income tax, and healthcare. Prime Minister Modi hailed it as historic and a high flight toward Viksit Bharat. Key proposals include a significant defence allocation, seven high-speed rail corridors, a simplified Income Tax Act, and support for rare-earth mineral development.

Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have strongly criticized the Union Budget 2026-27, labeling it as out of touch with India's critical issues. They argue the budget ignores widespread unemployment, economic distress among citizens, and farmers' struggles, while failing to offer concrete solutions or a clear policy vision for the nation's challenges.

The Union Budget 2026-27 brings significant relief for NRIs and overseas investors. Property transactions for non-residents will see simplified TDS compliance, with buyers no longer needing a TAN. Additionally, a new route allows direct equity investments in India for overseas individuals, raising investment caps and easing market access.

India's space program receives a significant boost with a Rs 13,705.6 crore allocation for 2026-27, a jump driven by increased capital expenditure. This funding signals a strong push towards developing new launch vehicles, satellite infrastructure, and ambitious exploration missions, including those tied to the Gaganyaan roadmap.

The Centre is launching the Viksit BharatGuarantee for Rozgar Aajeevika Mission (Grameen) with a Rs 95,692.31 crore allocation, replacing the MGNREGA which sees a reduced earmark of Rs 30,000 crore. Significant increases are also noted for PMAY-G and PMGSY, alongside allocations for JJM and DAY-NRLM.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27, increasing capital expenditure to Rs 12.2 lakh crore. The Rs 53.5 lakh crore budget received mixed reactions, with the BJP hailing it as growth-oriented, while the Congress termed it disappointing and lacking specifics for common citizens.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Union Budget 2026 as historic, charting a roadmap for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and boosting India's reform journey. He also highlighted the mother of all deals with the EU, aimed at benefiting youth and MSMEs, and praised Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's record ninth consecutive budget presentation.

Union Budget 2026 designates 'Information Technology Services' as a single category for IT companies, including software development, IT-enabled services, KPOs, and contract R&D. A uniform 15.5 per cent safe harbour margin will apply, with increased thresholds and automated approvals. A fast-track Unilateral APA process for IT services aims for conclusion within two years.

Presenting the 2026-27 Budget, the Finance Minister outlined a vision for Viksit Bharat, emphasizing sustained growth, structural reforms, and citizen empowerment. Key proposals include scaling up manufacturing in strategic sectors, rejuvenating legacy industries, supporting MSMEs, and a significant push for infrastructure development.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled measures to boost India's export sectors. Duty-free import limits for processed seafood and leather/synthetic footwear inputs are raised. The export timeline for leather goods and garments is extended to one year. These steps aim to counter challenges, particularly from the US market.

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the Union Budget 2026. Measures aim to support key export sectors facing US tariffs. The budget includes customs duty reductions and manufacturing incentives. These steps are designed to boost export competitiveness and resilience against global economic shifts. Capital expenditure sees an increase, while the fiscal deficit is projected to narrow.

The Union Budget 2026 significantly boosts defence spending to Rs 7.85 lakh crore, a substantial rise from last year. Modernisation efforts will receive Rs 2.19 lakh crore, with key allocations for aircraft and naval fleets. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced customs duty exemptions on aircraft components and raw materials, aiming to invigorate the defence aerospace industry.

Foreign companies offering global cloud services via Indian data centres will enjoy a tax holiday until 2047, a significant boost for digital infrastructure. This move aims to attract investment and strengthen India's position in cloud computing and AI. Software development and IT services are now unified under a single category, with a common safe harbour margin of 15.5 per cent.

Nirmala Sitharaman delivered her ninth consecutive Union Budget speech, lasting 1 hour and 25 minutes, outlining the fiscal roadmap for 2026-27. This presentation marks her record-breaking six years and eight months as Finance Minister in continuous office. Prime Minister Modi hailed the event as a proud parliamentary tradition.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budgetbecoming the first finance minister in India to achieve this milestoneand also the first to present a Union Budget on a Sunday. The Economic Survey tabled ahead of the Budget had projected Indias economic growth at 6.87.2 per cent in FY27, providing the broader macroeconomic context for social sector spending.

Stock market crash after Budget 2026: Investors reacted negatively to a hike in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options (F&O) trades announced by FM Sitharaman.

Latest Income Slabs FY 2026-2027 after Budget 2026: Taxpayers will continue to pay income tax as per the ongoing income tax slabs that are currency effective for FY 2025-2026. The income tax slabs under the new income tax regime underwent a major overhaul in last years Budget and hence this year the expectation was low of the FM bringing any changes.