Budget 2026 glossary explained: From deficit to disinvestment, key terms decoded to understand Budget numbers and policies

The Union Budget comes with a vocabulary that can be confusing even for regular readers. Many terms are technical, and are used repeatedly across Budget documents, tables and debates. The “Budget at a Glance” table presents a consolidated snapshot of the Union Government’s finances for a financial year, showing actuals, Budget Estimates and Revised Estimates…

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Donald Trump calls US an ‘economic miracle’, says critics of tariffs ‘were all wrong’

US President Donald Trump has claimed that his sweeping tariff policies have created an “American economic miracle”, dismissing warnings of global fallout and asserting that critics of his trade strategy “were all wrong”.In an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, Trump said the tariffs he imposed on nearly all foreign countries last April…

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Budget 2026: Fiscal deficit, capex, borrowing and debt roadmap among key numbers to track

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her record ninth straight Union Budget, with markets closely tracking headline numbers ranging from the fiscal deficit and capital expenditure to borrowing and tax revenue projections, as India charts its course as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.The Budget will be presented in a paperless format, continuing the…

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How Budget 2026 can improve ease of paying taxes

Improving the ease of doing business has been a consistent focus of the government. Successive Budgets have announced initiatives towards policy and regulatory reforms, decriminalisation and easing compliances in various spheres including taxation. The current financial year witnessed significant measures like structural simplification through the new Income tax law, boosting consumption through tax reliefs for…

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IDFC Bank net profit rises 48.1% to Rs 503 crore

MUMBAI: IDFC First Bank reported a 48.1% jump in net profit to Rs 503 crore for the third quarter ended December, from Rs 339 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. The increase was helped by higher core income, lower sequential provisions and an improvement in asset quality.The bank’s bottom line improved aided by stronger…

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Union Budget 2026: Economists outline growth priorities, expect focus on jobs, farmers, MSMEs

The Union Budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year will be presented on Sunday, February 1, with the government expected to prioritise job creation, agricultural development, inclusive manufacturing and digital transformation, according to experts.Osmania University Professor Satish Raikindi outlined a range of expectations from the upcoming budget, suggesting that the government is likely to place emphasis…

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February 2026 bank changes: These rules are changing as SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and PNB revise charges and card benefits

Several banking and card-related changes will come into effect from February 2026, affecting everyday transactions, credit card benefits and compliance requirements for customers of State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Punjab National Bank, according to ET.Among the key changes, SBI will revise service charges on certain IMPS transactions from February 15, 2026….

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