Union Budget 2026: Markets turned volatile on Budget Day as Nifty and Sensex fell sharply after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a steep hike in STT on futures and options trading, triggering panic selling and heavy losses in large-cap stocks
01 February,2026 08:39 PM IST | Tarun VermaAn official statement said that the CISF successfully provided comprehensive security for Wings India 2026, held at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad from January 28 to 31, 2026
01 February,2026 07:19 PM IST | mid-day online correspondentAssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said 15 Bangladeshi immigrants were pushed back across the border as part of the state’s ongoing crackdown on illegal migration. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to act firmly against infiltrators
01 February,2026 06:36 PM IST | PTIIndia has finalised eight free trade agreements covering 37 countries, including Australia, UAE, UK, and the EU, and is in talks with Chile, Canada, Mercosur, GCC nations, and SACU to expand trade, reduce duties, and boost investment, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said
01 February,2026 06:20 PM IST | PTIThe Finance Minister announced the setting up of 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in government schools over the next five years to promote innovation, scientific temper, and hands-on learning among students
01 February,2026 06:16 PM IST | Aditi AlurkarAhead of the crucial address, Sitharaman was seen carrying her now-familiar ‘digital bahi-khata’—a tablet wrapped in a red cloth embossed with the national emblem—continuing a tradition she has followed since moving away from the colonial-era briefcase
01 February,2026 06:07 PM IST | mid-day online correspondentSmartphones and sports equipment may become cheaper, while cigarettes, alcohol, and futures and options trading will see higher costs, even as income tax slabs remain unchanged. The changes will come into effect from April 1
01 February,2026 05:00 PM IST | Tarun VermaIn her first Budget in 2019, Sitharaman replaced the decades-old leather briefcase with a traditional red ‘bahi-khata’, symbolising a shift in presentation style. Continuing the practice of recent years, the Union Budget 2026–27 will be paperless, marking the fifth consecutive digital Budget
01 February,2026 04:54 PM ISTUnion Budget 2026 brings changes affecting household expenses and consumer choices. Smartphones, sports goods, select drugs, and capital equipment may get cheaper, while alcohol, tobacco, and stock futures trading become costlier
01 February,2026 04:50 PM ISTUnion Budget 2026 boosts India’s defence spending to Rs 7.8 lakh crore, a 15 per cent jump year-on-year. Capital outlay for military hardware rises 21.8 per cent, with duty waivers on aircraft raw materials to support Aatmanirbhar Bharat
01 February,2026 04:23 PM IST | mid-day online correspondentPrincipal of IDTR said tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, bearing the entire weight of the vehicle and playing a critical role in braking, stability and control
01 February,2026 04:17 PM IST | Archana DahiwalFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget 2026, focusing on reforms, fiscal consolidation, high-speed rail corridors, rare earth and biopharma initiatives, and targeted tax relief for individuals and businesses
01 February,2026 04:00 PM ISTIn a major relief move, Union Budget 2026 exempts income tax on interest earned from motor accident compensation claims. The decision removes TDS, ensuring victims and families receive the full awarded amount without deductions
01 February,2026 03:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentUnion Budget 2026 extends the Khelo India Mission for 10 years and boosts funding for sports goods manufacturing. The move aims to strengthen infrastructure, nurture talent, generate jobs, and prepare India for global events like the 2036 Olympics
01 February,2026 03:53 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentParts of Kashmir received fresh snowfall in higher reaches and rain in the plains as night temperatures rose above freezing in Srinagar and other areas, while Gulmarg remained the coldest place. The weather department has forecast cloudy conditions with the possibility of light rain or snow over the next two days
01 February,2026 03:41 PM IST | Srinagar | PTIPresenting the Union Budget 2026 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the time limit for submitting revised income tax returns would be extended from December 31 to March 31, subject to the payment of a nominal fee
01 February,2026 03:40 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSitharaman said the proposals are driven by "Yuvashakti" and anchored in what she described as the government’s "three kartavyas", aimed at accelerating growth while maintaining reform momentum
01 February,2026 03:40 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentUnion Budget 2026 seeks to touch multiple segments of society - from farmers, students and MSMEs to commuters, investors and healthcare professionals - while keeping long-term growth firmly in focus
01 February,2026 03:39 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe changes, announced as part of her speech on direct taxes, aim to decriminalise certain procedural non-compliances, reduce the severity of punishments, make penalties more proportionate, and ease the compliance burden on taxpayers
01 February,2026 03:38 PM IST | MumbaiThe Finance Minister did not propose any revisions to Income Tax slabs or rates under either the old or new tax regime for FY 2026-27. The most important announcement for taxpayers is the rollout of the New Income Tax Act, 2025, which will replace the Income Tax Act, 1961, from April 1, 2026
01 February,2026 03:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWhile there is no revision in slabs, the Budget addresses several long-standing concerns of middle-class taxpayers through targeted relief measures, including a reduction in TCS rates and the introduction of new dividend-related deductions
01 February,2026 03:37 PM IST | New DelhiADVERTISEMENT
Nirmala Sitharaman, delivers a wide-ranging economic reset focused on income tax restructuring, investment growth and sectoral reforms. The new framework expands tax slabs under the new regime, offering targeted relief for middle-class and upper-middle-income earners while maintaining continuity in both old and new tax structures. The 30% tax bracket now applies only to income above ₹24 lakh, shifting significantly from the earlier ₹15 lakh threshold and delivering major relief to earners in the ₹15–₹24 lakh segment. Price relief is expected across essentials, healthcare imports, personal-use imported goods, energy inputs, education-linked sectors, and manufacturing components due to customs exemptions and duty relaxations. WATCH
Israeli air strikes killed at least 32 people, including women and children, across Gaza on Saturday, according to the territory’s civil defence agency. The attacks targeted residential buildings, shelters and a police station, despite a ceasefire entering its second phase earlier this month
01 February,2026 02:48 PM IST | Gaza City, Palestinian Territories | AFPThe blast happened a day before a planned naval drill by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes. The US military has warned Iran not to threaten its warships or commercial traffic in the strait, on which Bandar Abbas sits
But Saturday's order comes as opposition to such tactics has grown, particularly in Minnesota's Twin Cities region
ADVERTISEMENT
Amit Shah made the remarks via video link while inaugurating the Shri Motibhai R Chaudhary Sagar Sainik School and Sagar Organic Plant at Boriyavi village in Mehsana district, Gujarat
13 November,2025 09:36 PM IST | Ahmedabad | mid-day online correspondentMove to ease traffic congestion near Pune University, along Ganeshkhind Road
Janmashtami, which commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, on the occasion, here are some of the best messages and wishes you can share this Janmashtami with your family and friends-
“Uhm, Lobo Lobo, any reason why you’re dressed with this coloured headgear?”
01 February,2026 06:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Rahul da CunhaADVERTISEMENT
-1769859114270_d.png "57 'terrorists' killed in Balochistan after attacks on security forces")
-1769863819357_d.png "Modi reaffirms support for Palestine at Arab Foreign Ministers’ gathering")
