Morning Digest | February 2, 2026

A budget for difficult times

While acknowledging the strains created by the external global environment, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (February 1, 2026) presented Budget 2026, with the aim to increase productivity across sectors and ensure employment generation. The Finance Minister said the Budget was structured along three kartavyas or duties: to accelerate and sustain economic growth, by enhancing productivity and competitiveness, and building resilience to volatile global dynamics; to fulfil the aspirations of the Indian people and build their capacity; and to ensure that every family, community, region and sector has access to resources, amenities and opportunities for meaningful participation.

Opposition terms Union Budget 2026 anti-people, visionless

Opposition parties on Sunday (February 1, 2026) described the Union Budget 2026 as “anti-poor” and “detached” from the country’s economic realities. Left leaders said it offered no relief to workers, farmers or the unemployed while continuing to prioritise big corporate interests. Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee said the Finance Minister failed to mention West Bengal even once.

Union Budget 2026: what gets costlier, what gets cheaper?

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has laid out customs duties and import tariffs changes for the upcoming fiscal year. These changes make some items costlier and others cheaper as the relevant tariff rates increase or decrease.

Union Budget 2026: Allocation to major central schemes

In the Union Budget 2026 tabled today (February 1, 2026), the Cent