Budget 2026: Fiscal Prudence, Expenditure Key; Sitharaman's Record 9th Budget Looms

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her record ninth consecutive Union Budget for FY27 on February 1 at 11 AM.
• Markets anticipate announcements on fiscal prudence, planned expenditure, income tax policy, and foreign export diversification.
• The Economic Survey, outlining government priorities, will be released on January 31.
• Industry bodies seek policy support and GST rationalisation, while working professionals expect tax relief.
• Investment firms and asset managers request tax relief on long-term capital gains and oppose transaction tax hikes.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026, presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, focuses on fiscal prudence amid global uncertainty.