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Experts said the Budget announcement shall herald a forward-looking tax regime, backed by the aforementioned epithets.
Updated : Feb 2, 2026

Budget 2026: A Reformative Turn in India’s Direct Tax Regime

Budget proposals reinforce a transcendental shift in reprimand, moving from a prosecution-oriented regime to a certainty-based compliance model.

The Economic Survey highlights a steady shift in India’s tax mix, with direct taxes now contributing nearly 59% of total tax revenues, up from about 52% before the pandemic.
Updated : Feb 1, 2026

Budget 2026: Taxpayers flag relief, stability, long-pending fixes as FM Sitharaman presents 9th Budget today

With Budget 2026 just around the corner, the spotlight has shifted from big tax cuts to fixing what taxpayers say no longer works. Individuals are looking for fewer anomalies, fairer treatment across income groups and relief that keeps pace with rising costs. This Budget is being seen less as a reset and more as a chance to fine-tune the system.

The new income tax regime was unveiled in Budget 2020 as an alternative to the traditional framework built around exemptions and deductions.
Updated : Feb 1, 2026

Union Budget 2026: Old Tax vs New Tax Regimes -- are taxpayers being nudged towards simplicity?

With Union Budget 2026 around the corner, income tax discussions are heating up across salaried households and middle-class families. The debate this time is less about rate cuts and more about direction—whether the old tax regime still has a future as the new system gains ground. Budget signals this year could decisively influence how individuals plan their taxes going forward.

India’s pension landscape is anchored by the market-linked National Pension System (NPS) and the government-backed Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), launched in 2025.
Updated : Jan 29, 2026

NPS drives pension expansion, but coverage remains limited amid informality: Economic Survey 2025-26

According to the Survey, the dominance of informal employment continues to shape the contours of India’s pension challenge. A large share of workers operate outside stable, salaried arrangements, making it difficult for them to commit to long-term, locked-in pension products, even when contribution amounts are modest.

insurancem mis-selling
Updated : Jan 29, 2026

Economic Survey 2025 flags cost burden in insurance, backs tougher Rs 10-crore penalties

According to the Survey, the maximum monetary penalty for violations has been raised tenfold, from Rs 1 crore to rs 10 crore, alongside granting the regulator powers to order disgorgement of wrongful gains.

The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act was notified on December 21, 2025.
Updated : Jan 29, 2026

Economic Survey 2026: Insurance law overhaul allows 100% FDI, boosts policyholder protection

According to the Survey, a central feature of the reform is the sharp increase in the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in Indian insurance companies from 74 per cent to 100 per cent.

The survey noted that under NUDGE, over 8,500 entities have revised their TDS returns, resulting in the addition of 1.08 crore deductees and recovering an additional Rs 4,825 crore in TDS.
Updated : Jan 29, 2026

Economic Survey 2025-26: NUDGE framework reshaping India’s tax regime with data and trust, notes CEA

The survey highlighted the adoption of the NUDGE framework, which utilises behavioural insights, data analytics, and targeted nudges to improve tax compliance and reduce both litigation and administrative friction.

According to the Survey, the new Income Tax Act focuses on clearer drafting, reduced cross-referencing and a more logical organisation of provisions.
Updated : Jan 29, 2026

Zero tax up to Rs 12 lakh lifts middle-class incomes, keeps revenues buoyant: Economic Survey 2025-26

At the core of the reform is a zero personal income tax liability for individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakh, with the effective tax-free threshold rising to Rs 12.75 lakh for salaried taxpayers after accounting for the standard deduction.

GST 2.0 introduced next-gen tax reforms with simplified slabs of 5%, 18% and 40%, effective September 22, 2025, to streamline compliance, spur consumption, and support economic growth.
Updated : Jan 29, 2026

GST 2025 rollout emerges as cornerstone of India’s structural reform story: Economic Survey 2025-26

The Survey’s preface highlights that the government carried out “the most radical overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax since its inception in 2017” during 2025, placing GST reforms alongside major policy actions such as labour code notification and sectoral liberalisation

Residency rules remain a major pain point. Experts said changes introduced by the Finance Act, 2020 have added complexity to the taxation of visiting NRIs and PIOs.
Updated : Jan 28, 2026

Budget 2026: NRIs look for tax clarity, simpler residency rules, investment-friendly reforms

With Budget 2026 around the corner, tax rules governing visiting NRIs and PIOs have come back into focus amid calls for simpler residency norms and clearer investment taxation. The Indian diaspora is watching closely for measures that reduce compliance friction and encourage long-term engagement with India’s growth story.

Budget 2025 already provided substantial relief under the new tax regime, including a higher standard deduction for salaried employees and a sharp increase in the Section 87A rebate to Rs 60,000.
Updated : Jan 28, 2026

Budget 2026: Will taxpayers get modest relief after last year’s big income tax cuts?

As Budget expectations build, taxpayers and experts are looking for calibrated tax tweaks rather than sweeping reforms to cushion inflation and lift disposable incomes. Key asks include a higher standard deduction, a larger LTCG tax-free threshold to promote long-term investing, and enhanced Section 80D limits to offs

On the New Income Tax Act, respondents broadly welcomed the move towards a simplified and more concise law but stressed the need for further rationalisation.
Updated : Jan 27, 2026

Budget 2026: KPMG pre-Budget survey flags tax simplification, incentives, litigation relief as key demands

Ahead of Union Budget 2026 and the rollout of the New Income Tax Act from April 1, industry expectations are firmly centred on tax certainty, simplification and faster dispute resolution. KPMG in India’s Pre-Budget Survey 2026 captures corporate sentiment on key tax reforms needed to improve ease of doing business. The findings offer a snapshot of priorities that could shape the government’s fiscal and tax agenda in the coming year.

The new tax regime, introduced in the Budget 2020-21, was positioned as an alternative to the old tax regime, offering lower slab rates in return for foregoing most exemptions and deductions.
Updated : Feb 1, 2026

Budget 2026: Old vs New Tax Regime — Which saves more for individual, salaried taxpayers?

Over the last few years, the Centre has made its preference clear. The New Tax Regime, now the default option, has been steadily sweetened through wider slabs, lower rates and higher rebates. However, the old tax regime continues to favour taxpayers with significant deductions and structured tax planning.

The New Tax Regime is a simplified income tax system that offers lower slab rates in exchange for giving up most deductions and exemptions available under the old regime.
Updated : Feb 1, 2026

Union Budget 2026: New Tax Regime got wider slabs, higher rebate benefits from April 1; check details

Union Budget 2026 is expected to build on the sweeping personal income tax reforms introduced last year, with the New Tax Regime firmly positioned as the government’s preferred framework. Changes announced in Union Budget 2025 widened tax slabs, raised rebate limits, and sharply increased the tax-free income threshold. From April 1, these measures have reshaped how individuals calculate and plan their income tax.

The Central government has successfully attracted taxpayers to the new tax regime with minimal exemptions in recent years, leading to a shift away from the old regime with multiple exemptions.
Updated : Jan 21, 2025

Budget 2025: Taxpayers expecting these big changes under the Old Tax Regime that saw no big tweak last year

Budget 2025: Despite the simplicity of the new tax regime, many taxpayers still prefer the old system due to its various deductions and exemptions.

The objective of new income tax bil is to simplify the legislation, ensuring it is clear and easy to understand.
Updated : Jan 18, 2025

Budget 2025: FM Sitharaman may introduce new income tax bill, framework in Budget session  

The proposed legislation will be a completely new framework, unlike a mere amendment to the current Act.

One of the most anticipated moves is the enhancement of tax deductions under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.
Updated : Jan 16, 2025

Budget 2025: What can we expect from FM Nirmala Sitharaman in terms of health insurance, OPD insurance?

Health insurance, including the burgeoning Outpatient Department (OPD) insurance segment, is poised to play a transformative role in making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and efficient.

As per government data, 70% of Income Tax Return filers chose the new tax regime in the fiscal year 2023-24, which has had an impact on small savings schemes.
Updated : Jan 16, 2025

Budget 2025: Will small savings schemes see a big change in next month's Budget presentation?

Experts feel due to increasing inflation and changing economic priorities, numerous potential investors are now examining alternative avenues that offer higher returns. This has made small savings schemes less attractive.

Gains from the sale of cryptocurrencies incur a flat 30% tax rate, irrespective of the individual's income tax bracket.
Updated : Jan 15, 2025

Budget 2025: Will FM Sitharaman bring in a new regime for crypto taxation in the upcoming Union Budget?

An important suggestion from the crypto community is to lower the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) rate on Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) transfers under section 194S from 1% to 0.01%.

USISPF has recommended an overhaul of India's indirect taxation system to bring it in line with global standards.
Updated : Jan 15, 2025

Budget 2025: TDS revision, tax parity to concessional rate for FPIs - Here's the wishlist of US-India Tax Forum

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) advocated for tax reforms aimed at simplifying direct taxation

Section 80TTB is specifically designed for senior citizens and offers a broader spectrum of deductions on various types of interest income.
Updated : Jan 14, 2025

Budget 2025 wishlist: Taxpayers, senior citizens seek higher deductions for savings, fixed deposit interest income

It is expected that the government should consider increasing the deduction limit under section 80TTA (savings account interest) from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

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