Budget 2026: 5 Key Announcements to Propel Stock Market to New Heights

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present Budget 2026 on February 1, with D-Street keenly watching for market-moving announcements.
• Increased Capital Expenditure (Capex) to ₹12-₹12.5 lakh crore from ₹11.21 lakh crore could be a major boost for infrastructure and related sectors.
• Focus on strategic sectors like defense, clean energy, railways, AI, data centers, and manufacturing with better funding and PLI expansion is expected to attract investment.
• Tax relief for the middle class through increased standard deduction or income tax slab changes could boost consumption and benefit FMCG, auto, and retail sectors.
• Stability or simplification of capital gains tax and STT, along with support for export-oriented manufacturing, are crucial for investor confidence and India's global competitiveness.

Why It Matters: Key budget announcements on Capex, strategic sectors, tax relief, and capital gains stability could significantly boost the stock market.