Indian stock markets logged their worst Budget-day performance in six years as the Sensex and Nifty plunged sharply after the Union Budget 2026 announcements. A surprise hike in derivatives transaction tax, sustained foreign investor outflows, and rising volatility spooked investors, triggering a broad-based sell-off across banks, large-cap and mid-cap stocks
An examination of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's speech and the fine print in the Budget shows there are some reasons for the middle class to cheer. Let's take a closer look
India’s Union Budget 2026 reflected a strategic response to global disruptions. From rare earth corridors and nuclear energy reforms to semiconductor manufacturing, defence modernisation and a 2047 tax holiday for foreign cloud firms, the Budget signals how geopolitics is influencing India’s economic priorities
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman offered some important reforms for the Indian diaspora in the Union Budget 2026-2027. From the purchase of shares to the sale of property, here is how non-resident Indians stand to gain
While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hasn’t introduced any changes to the Income tax slabs in the Budget 2026, significant changes have been proposed in filings and compliance. Filing timings have been staggered, and a sweeping new disclosure window has been announced for foreign assets
India’s Union Budget 2026 places the spotlight on the ‘orange economy’, covering creative sectors such as animation, gaming, design and live entertainment. Backed by the Economic Survey 2025-26, the government aims to boost jobs, skills, urban services and tourism through targeted policy support
Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the direct income tax rates and slabs remain unchanged. This means taxpayers will continue to pay tax at the same rate as in the current financial year. Under the current law, salaried individuals can choose between the old and the new tax regime
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced her record ninth Budget with a focus on growth. As basic customs duty has been slashed on many items, products such as cancer drugs and microwave ovens are set to become cheaper. On the other hand, luxury goods such as watches and imported liquor will get more expensive
India has announced dedicated rare earth corridors across four mineral-rich states to cut reliance on China and strengthen domestic supply chains. Unveiled in the Union Budget 2026-27 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the move aims to boost the manufacturing of critical minerals vital for clean energy, electronics and defence
In her 85-minute-long Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman focused on growth, jobs and long-term reforms. She stated that this year’s Budget was built around three ‘kartavyas’ — accelerating economic growth, building people’s capabilities, and ensuring inclusive development. Here’s what we gleaned from it
Even before Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled Budget 2026, the price of cigarettes, pan masala and tobacco products has increased, as new excise duties and a health cess kick in from today (February 1)
Many political watchers are keeping an eye on whether US President Donald Trump will authorise strikes on Iran. The US has been moving its military assets to West Asia, and Trump has issued a nuclear ultimatum to the Islamic Republic. All this and much more in our weekly roundup
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to break a 75-year tradition with her Budget speech. She is likely to focus on Part B of the annual document, which is largely restricted to tax proposals and technical announcements. The move comes as a means to reflect India’s economic vision and priorities
This is the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Budget in Parliament. Sitharaman first presented a Union Budget in 2019. But what do we know about members of her team?
The Union Budget will be presented in Parliament today. As the numbers begin to flow, the financial jargon and terms can be hard to grasp for people with little financial knowledge. Here's a handy glossary of financial words that will help you decode things
OpenAI’s chief executive Sam Altman has acknowledged it all adds to operating costs at the scale of billions of prompts. At the same time, it is a stretch to suggest that treating ChatGPT politely comes at significant environmental cost
A recent study suggests that mood changes depend more on awareness of hunger signals than on low energy alone. Also, people were only in a worse mood when they acknowledged they were feeling hungry
A look at TikTok, Instagram or any other social media app, and there’s buzz about vibration plates. Influencers swear by this new fitness equipment, claiming that it helps in losing weight and draining the lymphatic glands. But are these claims really true?
After years of negotiations, India and the European Union sealed the largest trade deal for both sides — covering two billion people and about 25 per cent of the world’s GDP. This is the eighth such free trade agreement for New Delhi in the past six years. That's what makes FTA our Word of the Week
Gold crossed the $5,000 mark (Rs 4,59 lakh) for the first time earlier this week before crashing on Thursday evening. But will retail investors favour gold in 2026?
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died after his private plane came crashing down near the runway at the Baramati airport. What went wrong on that flight? We explore this and more in our weekly roundup
Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard is under the gun as the European Union designated it a terrorist organisation. From controlling ballistic missiles to running businesses and backing armed groups abroad, the Guard plays a massive role in Iran’s politics, security and regional conflicts
Nike claims its latest footwear can sharpen focus by stimulating sensory receptors in the feet. Backed by internal neuroscience research, the shoes promise heightened awareness and presence. But what does independent science say about the link between footwear and brain activity?
Kevin Warsh built his career across finance, government, and academia. He served as a member of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011, after being appointed by then-US president George W Bush and played a key role during the 2008 global financial crisis
Amazon MGM Studios’ $40-million deal for ‘Melania’, a documentary on First Lady Melania Trump, has sparked controversy over its unprecedented budget, aggressive marketing and limited press access. Ethical questions are being raised around a sitting first lady profiting from her role
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has stirred the pot with its Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, notified on January 13. Under the new rules, the statutory body defines ‘caste-based discrimination’ as discrimination ‘only on the basis of caste or tribe’ against members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). But why has this caused a row?
France is the latest European nation to boost attempts to ditch US tech. Government officials will begin using a new video conferencing platform called Visio, an application developed by the government, instead of American-owned tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. What about other European countries?
Pakistan Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir recently travelled to Bahawalpur in Punjab, where he addressed the troops of the Bahawalpur Garrison and witnessed a military exercise. However, the visit is being seen as a message to India, which had struck the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit’s headquarters in the city during Operation Sindoor in May
As Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s term nears its end, US President Donald Trump is set to announce the next chief. The incoming boss of the central bank will need to establish credibility under intense scrutiny
A 10-month-old baby was rushed to the hospital in Puer, Yunnan province, in southwestern China, in December last year after being allegedly stabbed with a needle hundreds of times by his mother, authorities confirmed. A doctor revealed that the woman pierced the infant when he was disobedient or developed signs of a fever or cold