To discourage misuse of tax arbitrage, promoters will be subject to an additional buyback tax, raising the effective tax rate to 22 per cent for corporate promoters and 30 per cent for non-corporate promoters, she stated.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called the 10 percent nominal GDP growth estimate for the financial year beginning April 1, 2026, realistic. This projection is based on current GDP base year and methodology. India's GDP is estimated at Rs 393 lakh crore. The government will soon revise base years for key economic indicators like GDP and CPI.
Gold prices rebounded nearly 7% on MCX after a brutal selloff ahead of Budget 2026. Profit booking, margin pressures and lack of jewellery-sector relief weighed on bullion, while silver stayed flat after historic volatility following record crashes in both metals.
Ace investor Shankar Sharma applauds Budget 2026s STT hike on derivatives, calling F&O trading a poison. Experts say it may curb speculation, shift focus to long-term investing, but could unsettle markets and impact hedging.
Morgan Stanley maintains a bullish stance on Indian equities post-Budget, citing cyclical growth support, structural reforms, capex push, and long-term policy focus on semiconductors, AI, and data centres to sustain earnings and premium valuations.
Budget 2026 proposes capital gains tax exemption for Sovereign Gold Bonds only if purchased directly from RBI and held until maturity. Secondary market SGBs will lose tax benefits, aiming to reward patient investors over speculators, though bond prices fell sharply.
Market veteran Sunil Singhania noted that while the Union Budget initially disappointed, increased allocations to railways, defense, and infrastructure offer long-term growth potential. However, recurring tax changes, particularly to STT and capital gains, create investor uncertainty. Singhania emphasized the need for policy stability to attract foreign investment and support India's ambitious economic expansion goals.
LIC CEO & MD R Doraiswamy described the Union Budget as a visionary roadmap for India's ambition to become a top three global economy. He highlighted the focus on strategic industries, MSMEs, and rural income growth, expecting market sentiment to improve as the broader development push is assessed.
