Union Budget 2026 | STT Hike Sparks Selloff As Sensex, Nifty Plunge Nearly 2% After Budget 2026 Announcement

Union Budget 2026 | Stock markets reacted negatively to the Union Budget, with both the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty ending nearly 2 per cent lower. The Sensex closed at 80,722.94, while the Nifty settled at 24,825.45. Markets turned volatile after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a hike in the Securities Transaction Tax (STT), raising rates for futures and options trading. The government also proposed taxing buyback proceeds as capital gains. Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava said the move aims to curb excessive short-term speculation and protect retail investors. While the higher STT may impact active traders and trigger near-term volatility, experts believe the Budget remains positive for markets over the long term, raising questions on whether the worst of the sell-off is already over. 

Union Budget 2026 Live Update