India Budget 2026: 12 takeaways so far you should know

Dubai: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1, outlining targeted steps to sustain economic growth amid global uncertainty. The Budget focuses on manufacturing, infrastructure, strategic sectors, and long-term stability, while reinforcing the government’s reform-led approach. The government identified six priority areas to accelerate and sustain economic growth: Scaling up manufacturing in strategic and frontier sectors Reviving legacy industrial sectors Creating globally competitive MSMEs Strengthening infrastructure Ensuring long-term economic security and stability Developing city-based economic regions These interventions aim to strengthen India’s economic foundation and support long-term expansion. The government also said it will focus on developing city economic regions, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, positioning them as new growth engines. Manufacturing received strong emphasis, particularly in seven ...