Sitharaman's 9th Budget: AI, Fiscal Consolidation, and Rural Welfare Drive India's Growth
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Moneycontrol•01-02-2026, 14:05
Sitharaman's 9th Budget: AI, Fiscal Consolidation, and Rural Welfare Drive India's Growth
- •Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth budget, balancing immediate concerns with long-term structural goals.
- •The budget emphasizes new economy sectors like AI, high-tech industries, rare earths, and data centers, alongside fiscal consolidation.
- •A new rural welfare framework, VB GRAM G programme, replaces MGNREGA with an allocation of Rs 95,600 crore.
- •Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options increased, while Long-Term Capital Gains Tax (LTCG) remains unchanged.
- •The government aims for a fiscal deficit of 4.3% by 2026-27 and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 50% by 2031, with increased capital expenditure for infrastructure.
Why It Matters: Sitharaman's budget prioritizes AI, fiscal prudence, and infrastructure to propel India towards Viksit Bharat.
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