In a significant yet geopolitically charged move, the United States has sharply reduced import tariffs on a wide range of Indian labour-intensive goods, 

The unease did not begin with Budget 2026. Its roots lie in last year’s decision to raise LTCG tax on equities from 10% to 12.5%.

There are no headline-grabbing reforms in this Budget. Instead, there are process reforms: simplified compliance, clearer rules, predictable policies.

Indian democracy was never designed to depend on heroic interventions from constitutional heads.

When India and the European Union concluded what leaders on both sides have described as the “Mother of All Deals” in January 2026.

As India approaches another Union Budget, the familiar cycle of anticipation and scepticism returns.