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Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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Budget

Budget 2026 squarely puts manufacturing at the centre of India’s growth strategy

The Budget’s emphasis on seven ‘strategic and frontier’ manufacturing areas is clearly not random. These are areas of high import dependence, strong employment, and rising geopolitical sensitivity.

Budget 2026 is deliberately boring. Given the global climate, it’s a smart decision

Budget 2026 does not seek to redefine India’s growth model; rather, it reinforces the existing framework characterised by fiscal restraint, public investment, and manufacturing depth.

North India to get its own NIMHANS, says FM. Doctors react: ‘Visionary’ to ‘no Ayurveda pls’

New Delhi: The announcement of a ‘NIMHANS of the north’ in the Union Budget is a move that could strengthen India’s mental health system,...

Budget 2026: Push for India’s bond market needs the foundations fixed first

Corporate bonds are priced as a spread over the risk-free rate. In India, the reference risk-free rate is unreliable as large institutions are mandated to buy and hold government bonds.

Can AI make farming precise? Budget agritech scheme excites startups, farmer unions are cold

FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced Bharat-VISTAAR, multilingual AI tool to enhance farm productivity and enable decision-making for farmers. It’s received mixed reactions.

Budget 2026 HIGHLIGHTS: Boost for IB, CAPF; RSS affiliates say Budget failed farmers, labourers

This is the second full-year budget of Modi 3.0, and Sitharaman's ninth. FM's speech lasted 83 minutes.

No farm loan waiver or Ladki Bahin stipend hike, Maharashtra budget’s focus on industry & infrastructure

Gadchiroli 'steel hub', Shaktipeeth Highway, Shivaji memorial among other projects find place in the Maharashtra budget presented by Finance Minister Ajit Pawar Monday.

Tax cuts won’t fix low growth. Govt must look beyond fiscal policy

Since 2016, the govt has tried various fiscal tactics to stimulate growth, from increasing expenditure to introducing welfare schemes. The tax cut is the latest of these measures.

Middle class gets a Budget that mirrors their aspirations. Modi knows the pulse

Union Budget 2025-26 has clear aims: accelerate growth, enhance the spending power of India’s rising middle class, invigorate private sector investment & uplift household sentiment.

USIBC calls for deeper reforms & roadmap, including for nuclear, following Budget 2025

US-India Business Council praises focus on nuclear energy & critical minerals but stresses need for clear private-sector roadmaps & streamlined regulatory approvals for long-term success.

On Camera

The debate about spheres of influence reorders India’s position

New world reordering tests New Delhi’s strategic autonomy, balancing ties without succumbing to exclusive dominance zones.

Urban co-op banks doubled loan book in 5 yrs, but stuck at under 2% of credit market—Sahakar Trends

UCBs accounted for 1.8% of total industry credit in September 2025—down from 2.2% five yrs ago—showing that they are losing ground to faster PSU banks.

US military commander, envoy Sergio Gor visit Indian Army Western Command, Bengaluru next

At the Western Army Command, the American delegation was briefed on the capabilities of the formation, past operations and the path ahead.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.