Budget 2026-27: Income Tax Silence, Big Relief for Health, Education & Infra

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2026-27, focusing on domestic demand amidst global uncertainties and aiming for a 7% growth rate.
• No direct income tax benefits for individuals, but significant relief announced for health and education sectors.
• Seven new high-speed rail corridors (Mumbai-Pune, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi) announced to boost infrastructure and reduce logistics costs.
• 17 cancer drugs and medicines for 7 rare diseases to become cheaper due to customs duty abolition/exemption, benefiting the middle class.
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 gets ₹40,000 crore, along with ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund and tax holiday for foreign tech companies until 2047 to foster a global tech hub.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026-27 prioritizes infrastructure, health, and education, while maintaining fiscal stability, despite no direct income tax relief.