Budget 2026 Reactions Live Updates: Money, Markets and the Industry Mood

As FM Nirmala Sitharaman presents her ninth Union Budget, investors and industry look for clarity, consistency, and cues on growth

The Union Budget for 2026-27 has been presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament today, marking her ninth consecutive Budget. The 83-minute Budget has been presented at a time when the Indian economy has displayed resilience in the face of global challenges such as trade disruptions and increased tariffs imposed by the US.

The markets are open today despite Budget Day being on a Sunday, with the NSE and BSE trading as usual. Investors have begun trading with tempered expectations, looking for stability and guidance in policy rather than fiscal giveaways. The key areas of focus are on capital expenditure budgets for FY27, income tax policies, export competitiveness, and the government’s strategy for foreign trade diversification.

The Budget also sees sectoral trends, especially in infrastructure, manufacturing, and exports, being closely watched for market sentiment in the coming days.

Before the Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Budget will be based on the principles of “reform, perform, and transform.”

This live blog will provide updates on key announcements, market reactions, and real-time responses from industry leaders as the Budget story develops.

Education as a Growth Engine
Sharing his thoughts, Prof. M. A. Venkataramanan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, FLAME University, said, “The Union Budget 2026 clearly signals a shift to education as a national growth engine. By strengthening education-to-employment alignment, the government is building ecosystems where learning, research, and enterprise reinforce each other. This creates an urgent demand for graduates who can think across disciplines, apply knowledge in real-world contexts, and work at the intersection of technology, policy, sustainability, and society.

This article has valuable insights of Prof. M. A. Venkataramanan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, FLAME University.