Union Budget 2025-26 :Key Highlights 

Syllabus :GS3/Economy 

In Context

• The Union Budget 2025-26 was framed around the theme “Sabka Vikas,” emphasizing balanced growth across all regions of India.
  • The term ‘budget’ has nowhere been mentioned in the Constitution. It is mentioned as ‘Annual financial statement’ in Article 112.

About 

• The Finance Minister quoted the renowned Telugu poet Shri Gurajada Appa Rao’s saying, “A country is not just its soil; a country is its people,” to highlight the importance of people-centric development.
• Principles of Viksit Bharat:
  • Eradicate poverty (Zero-poverty)
  • Provide high-quality, universal school education
  • Ensure access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare
  • Achieve full employment with a skilled workforce
  • Involve 70% women in economic activities
  • Strengthen agriculture to make India the “food basket of the world

Key Engines of Growth

• Agriculture (1st Engine): Launch of Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to cover 100 districts.
  • Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses for Tur, Urad, and Masoor pulses.
  • Loan limit for Kisan Credit Cards raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
  • Comprehensive program for vegetables, fruits, high-yield seeds, and cotton productivity.

• MSMEs (2nd Engine): MSME investment & turnover limits enhanced to 2.5 and 2 times.
  • Credit cards for micro enterprises and a loan scheme for 5 lakh women and marginalized entrepreneurs.
  • Development of a toy manufacturing hub and National Manufacturing Mission.

• Investment (3rd Engine): 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs to be set up in schools.
  • Broadband for all secondary schools & PHCs under BharatNet project.
  • Establishment of National Centres of Excellence for skilling.
  • ₹1.5 lakh crore for 50-year interest-free loans to states for capital expenditure.
  • Urban Challenge Fund of ₹1 lakh crore to support urban development.
  • ₹20,000 crore for private sector-driven R&D and innovation.
  • National Geospatial Mission for urban planning and Gyan Bharatam Mission for manuscript conservation.
  • Nuclear Energy Expansion: Rs.20,000 crore for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

• Exports (4th Engine): Launch of Export Promotion Mission and BharatTradeNet for trade documentation.
  • Support for domestic manufacturing and integration with global supply chains.
  • Infrastructure support for air cargo and fisheries exports.

Reforms

• Financial Sector : Increase in FDI limit in insurance from 74% to 100%.
  • Establishment of a High-Level Committee for Regulatory Reforms.
  • Introduction of the Investment Friendliness Index of States.
  • Decriminalization of 100+ provisions under the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0.
  • Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) to review regulations.

• Taxation & Fiscal Policy: Fiscal deficit target of 4.4% of GDP for FY 2025-26.
  • Increased receipts and expenditure estimates for 2025-26.
  • Commitment to fiscal consolidation with a clear roadmap.

Tax Proposals :

• Personal Income Tax Reform:  no tax for income up to ₹12 lakh per annum.
  • Standard deduction of ₹75,000 for income up to ₹12.75 lakh.
  • Estimated ₹1 lakh crore revenue loss due to tax reforms.

• TDS/TCS Rationalization: TDS limit on interest for senior citizens increased from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh.
  • TDS threshold on rent raised to ₹6 lakh from ₹2.4 lakh.
  • Extension of updated returns filing to 4 years for any assessment year.
• Compliance Simplification: Increase in registration period for small charitable trusts from 5 to 10 years.
  • Senior citizens benefit from tax exemption on National Savings Scheme withdrawals.
• Promotion of Employment & Investment: Presumptive taxation regime for non-residents providing services to electronics manufacturing companies.
  • Extension of the Sovereign Wealth Funds and Pension Funds investment deadline to 2030.

• Customs Tariff Reforms: Removal of seven tariffs, simplification of cess, and reduction of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on critical minerals and textiles.
  • Reduction in BCD on lithium-ion battery manufacturing capital goods and shipbuilding materials.
  • Duty adjustments to encourage domestic manufacturing.
• Export Promotion: Reduction of BCD on fish products and leather to boost exports.
  • Fully exempted BCD on lifesaving medicines for cancer, rare diseases, and chronic illnesses.

State wise Initiatives – Bihar: New Greenfield Airport, Western Koshi Canal Project, Makhana Board. – Uttar Pradesh: Medical College Expansion, Jal Jeevan Mission, Tourism Growth. – Maharashtra: Urban Challenge Fund, Gig Worker Social Security, Nuclear Energy Mission. – Tamil Nadu: Shipbuilding Clusters, Urban Challenge Fund. – Gujarat: Maritime Development Fund, Nuclear Energy Expansion. – Karnataka: AI for Education Centre, PM Research Fellowships at IISc. – Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: Water & Sanitation, Digital Books in Telugu. – Rajasthan: Cotton Productivity Mission, Medical College Expansion. – Punjab & Haryana: Pulses Mission, Enhanced Credit for Farmers. – North-East: New Urea Plant in Assam, Fisheries Development. Ministry-wise expenditure in 2025-26 (Rs crore)

Source ;PIB