बजट 2026: विस्तार से समझें क्या हुआ सस्ता और क्या बदला

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her historic 9th Union Budget in Parliament on February 1, 2026. This year’s budget has arrived as a “bag of relief” for the common man, with a primary focus on healthcare, domestic manufacturing, and personal savings.

If you are planning your shopping list or investments for the year, this breakdown of what has become more affordable will be your go-to guide.

1. Healthcare and Medicines: Making Treatment Accessible

The government has provided significant relief in the healthcare sector. This budget is particularly a boon for families battling critical illnesses like cancer:

• Cancer Medicines: Customs Duty has been completely waived on 17 life-saving cancer drugs.

• Rare Diseases: Tax exemptions have been granted on medicines and specialized medical foods used for treating diabetes and seven other rare diseases.

2. Gadgets and Electronics: Reaping the ‘Make in India’ Benefit

Great news for tech enthusiasts! To bolster local production, the government has slashed duties on various electronic components:

• Smartphones: A reduction in import duties on mobile parts, PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly), and camera lenses will lead to a drop in smartphone prices.

• Electric Vehicles (EV): Exemptions on raw materials for manufacturing Lithium-ion batteries will make electric scooters and cars more affordable for the masses.

3. Home Appliances and Kitchen Essentials

Key announcements have been made to help manage your household budget more effectively:

• Microwave Ovens: Basic Customs Duty (BCD) has been removed on specific parts of microwaves, making them more budget-friendly.

• Solar Panels: Duties on components used to manufacture solar cells and panels have been reduced. Installing a rooftop solar plant is now significantly cheaper.

4. Lifestyle and International Travel

• Foreign Tour Packages: For those dreaming of an international vacation, the TCS (Tax Collected at Source) on foreign tour packages has been slashed to 2%.

• Footwear and Leather Goods: Reduced duties on raw materials for leather and textiles will lower the prices of shoes, belts, and bags.

• Sports Goods: To encourage the youth toward fitness, relief has been provided on the import of professional sports equipment.

5. Personal Imports and Education

The budget simplifies costs for those with international connections:

• Personal Imports: The tariff rate for importing items for personal use has been halved from 20% to 10%.

• Study Abroad: For students studying overseas, the TCS rate on remittances has been reduced from 5% to 2%, easing the financial burden on parents.