హైదరాబాద్ జీడిమెట్లలో దారుణం | TG News

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, announced several measures aimed at easing outward remittances, boosting trade, and promoting economic growth. Notably, select overseas remittances have become cheaper, with the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on overseas tour packages, education, and medical remittances reduced to 2 per cent. Earlier, TCS on tour packages ranged from 5–20 per cent, while overseas education and medical remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) were taxed at 5 per cent at source.

The Budget also provided relief on customs duties and transaction charges for several sectors. Basic Customs Duty (BCD) has been cut or exempted on energy-transition equipment, solar glass inputs, capital goods for critical minerals and lithium-ion cells, civilian aircraft MRO components, rare and cancer drugs, and certain textile and leather inputs. Fish caught by Indian fishermen and nuclear power goods have been exempted from BCD, while BCD on microwave ovens and personal-use imports has been halved from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.

Import duties have been reduced on graphite, quartz, coal, sand, silicon, rare-earth metals, and metal oxides. Export realisation periods for select textile and leather shipments have been extended to one year. Duties on makhana and roasted nuts were cut sharply to 30 per cent from 150 per cent, while almonds and walnuts also saw reductions. Seeds and spores for sowing now attract 15 per cent BCD instead of 30 per cent, and wet blue leather will enjoy zero import duty.

On the taxation front, misreporting of taxes will now attract penalties up to 100 per cent of the tax amount, along with applicable tax and interest. Futures and options (F&O) trading costs have increased, with the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on stock options raised to 0.15 per cent and STT on futures trading increased to 0.05 per cent from 0.02 per cent. TCS rates were also raised from 1 per cent to 2 per cent on alcoholic liquor, minerals, and scrap sales. Additionally, National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD) on chewing tobacco products, including zarda and gutkha, has been increased from 25 per cent to 60 per cent.

Highlighting the vision behind the Budget, Finance Minister Sitharaman said it rests on three pillars: faster growth, inclusive development, and structural reforms, with a central focus on improving the lives of the poor.