Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget has allocated Rs 1,492 crore for the functioning of both Houses of Parliament.

The Lok Sabha has been allotted Rs 1,009 crore, which includes grants-in-aid for Sansad TV. Of this, Rs 1.56 crore is for the salaries and allowances of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, while Rs 416.45 crore is earmarked for MPs’ salaries, allowances, and related facilities. An additional Rs 586.03 crore will cover Lok Sabha Secretariat expenses, including staff salaries, establishment costs, grants-in-aid, and Sansad TV operations.

The Rajya Sabha has been allocated Rs 482.99 crore, with Rs 2.55 crore set aside for the salaries and allowances of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

On Sunday, the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) criticized the Union Budget as “exclusionary,” stating that the schemes announced for ‘divyangs’ including one focused on skill training are merely recycled versions of ineffective programs that have consistently failed to create employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

In a statement released locally, the NPRD added that sharp cuts in funding for key central schemes, education, health, rural development, and agriculture could have serious repercussions for disabled individuals and their families.

The Union Budget 2026 has raised the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) specifically for futures and options (F&O) trades, aiming to enhance tax revenue and check excessive speculative activity, Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava said on Sunday.

Under the new rates, STT on futures contracts has increased from 0.02% to 0.05%. For options, the STT on premiums has been raised from 0.1% to 0.15%, and the STT on the exercise of options has also been set at 0.15%.

The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated ₹1,104.98 crore to the CBI, a modest 4.4 per cent rise from the current financial year. The allocation was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Budget in Parliament.

In 2025–26, the agency was initially allotted ₹997.62 crore, which was later revised to ₹1,058.3 crore. The latest Budget documents place the CBI’s funding for 2026–27 at ₹1,104.98 crore.

The Union Budget for 2026–27 has rolled out a host of measures that offer strong systemic support to the export ecosystem, with a clear focus on manufacturing and trade facilitation, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said.

He noted that the proposals address both labour-intensive and high-technology sectors. Agrawal added that the emphasis on logistics and trade facilitation would reduce compliance burdens and help improve India’s share in global trade.

Padma Shri awardee and senior oncologist Dr Ashok Kumar Vaid called the government’s decision to remove customs duty on 17 cancer-related drugs an “unprecedented” step, saying it would provide major relief to patients and their families facing steep treatment costs.

Speaking to PTI, Dr Vaid said cancer treatment can be divided into two or three segments, with the cost of medicines forming the largest share. "The treatment of cancer can be categorised into two or three segments, and the biggest segment of all is the price of medicines. Cancer treatment is not a one-time therapy; it is a long-term process," he said.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said the Union Budget would push up inflation and lead to job losses. Speaking to reporters in Kavlem village, he claimed the Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman offered nothing for Goa.

Kejriwal also criticised the BJP, alleging it had “destroyed” the state, and said people were increasingly afraid to speak out about the problems affecting Goa.

The Union Budget 2026 has prioritised the Animal Husbandry and Dairying sector, reflecting the government’s focus on rural livelihoods and farmers’ income. Provisions include expansion of veterinary infrastructure, mobile vet units, and doorstep services to improve animal health and productivity. The Budget also supports breed improvement programmes and disease prevention initiatives, aiming to strengthen the livestock economy and ensure high-quality output for farmers.

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking to the media at Rail Bhawan on the Union Budget announcements, said, “This is a duty-driven budget inspired by the power of youth and the strength of women”. He emphasised the government’s efforts to promote India’s creative economy globally through WAVES. Vaishnaw also noted that IICT Mumbai, modelled after IITs and IIMs, will engage 15,000 schools and 500 colleges through Creators’ Labs, aiming to generate 20 lakh new jobs.

The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated over Rs 2.55 lakh crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs, up nearly 9.5% from last year’s Rs 2.33 lakh crore. Around 68% of this — roughly Rs 1.73 lakh crore — will fund police and internal security, covering the Intelligence Bureau, central armed police forces, border development initiatives, and police units in Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir.