The Income Tax department has enabled online filing for ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) for the Assessment Year 2026-27, allowing small and medium taxpayers to file returns for income earned in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Jio Platforms has announced the appointment of Akash Ambani as its managing director for a five-year term, effective from April 9, 2026, as the digital services company prepares for its highly anticipated Initial Public Offering.
India's fiscal deficit is projected to reach 4.5 per cent of GDP for the current fiscal year, exceeding the budgeted target, as the government's policy responses to the West Asia conflict are expected to strain public finances, according to research firm BMI.
The idea of back-loading the target of fiscal consolidation is perhaps guided by the government's desire to be prepared for any adverse developments in the coming year, points out A K Bhattacharya.
Force Motors Limited announced its highest-ever revenue and profitability for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, driven by growth across its Urbania, Trax, and Traveller platforms, as well as defence partnerships and international engine manufacturing.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is anticipated to make its highest-ever dividend payment to the government this year, providing a significant fiscal boost to address challenges, including those stemming from the ongoing Middle East crisis.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, reported a net loss of Rs 2,536.9 crore in the March quarter of fiscal year 2025-26, primarily attributed to a significant foreign exchange loss of approximately Rs 8,100 crore, the impact of December flight disruptions, and expenses related to new labour laws.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a fiscal deficit target of 4.3% of GDP for FY27, continuing the path of fiscal consolidation. The government aims to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to 55.6% by BE 2026-27 and further to around 50% by March 2031.
Elevated global crude oil and natural gas prices, driven by geopolitical developments in West Asia, could significantly influence the Government of India's fiscal position for 2026-27, according to a report by ratings agency Icra.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) announced a significant 23 per cent increase in its net profit for the March quarter, reaching Rs 23,420 crore, alongside a rise in total income and premium collections.
Indian carmakers experienced a robust start to the new fiscal year, with an estimated 4.5 lakh passenger vehicles sold in April, marking a 27 per cent increase year-on-year, attributed to factors like GST 2.0, repo rate cuts, and income tax benefits.
S&P Global Ratings has increased India's GDP growth forecast for the next fiscal year to 7.1 per cent, citing private consumption, investment, and exports as key drivers. However, the agency also cautioned that the conflict in the Middle East could strain India's fiscal position due to higher energy prices.
Hybrid mutual fund schemes attracted significant inflows of Rs 1.55 lakh crore in FY26, a 29 per cent increase, as investors increasingly opted for diversified investment strategies to navigate volatile market conditions and geopolitical tensions.
Air India has temporarily reduced its domestic flights by 22 per cent due to the impact of high fuel prices, following a previous reduction in international flights. The airline is offering re-accommodation, date changes, or refunds to affected passengers.
S&P Global Ratings projects India's economy to grow at 6.3 per cent even if crude oil prices average USD 130 per barrel in the current fiscal year, highlighting the nation's resilience amidst the West Asia crisis and strong commitment to fiscal consolidation.
The Indian government has marginally exceeded its indirect tax collection target for fiscal year 2025-26, with strong performances in customs, excise, and GST revenues.
Amid the arithmetic of subsidies, consumption and capacity, whichever government assumes office in Tamil Nadu after May 4 is likely to inherit a growing debate over how far the state can continue to expand welfare promises without placing additional strain on public finances and the power sector.
Leading stock exchange BSE Ltd announced a 61 per cent increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 795.47 crore for the March quarter, driven by higher income, and reported its highest-ever performance in its 150-year history for the full financial year 2025-26.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd reported a significant 48.5 per cent jump in consolidated profit after tax to Rs 5,259.91 crore in the March quarter, primarily attributed to strong performance in its auto and farm sectors, alongside ambitious plans for new SUV and EV launches.
Here are the key numbers to watch out for in the Union Budget for 2025-26:
India's net direct tax collections increased by 5.12 per cent to over Rs 23.40 lakh crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year, but this figure still fell short of the revised budget target of Rs 24.21 lakh crore, primarily due to income tax cuts implemented earlier in the year.
Bharti Airtel reported a 33.5 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 7,325 crore for the March 2026 quarter, primarily attributed to one-time provisions for statutory and tax liabilities.
Following through announcements with enforcement of measures is key, as a run through recent Indian economic history shows, points out A K Bhattacharya.
Bank of Baroda economists project India's GDP to grow 6.5-6.8 per cent in FY27 but warn that the fiscal deficit could overshoot the budgeted 4.3 per cent target, potentially reaching 4.7-4.8 per cent of GDP due to subsidy overruns, excise duty cuts, and oil marketing company losses.
The OECD projects India's GDP to grow at 7.6% in the current fiscal year and 6.1% in 2026-27, despite global economic challenges stemming from the Middle East conflict and energy price volatility.
Domestic passenger vehicle dispatches in India rose 25.4 per cent year-on-year to 4,37,312 units in April, continuing the strong demand momentum from the previous fiscal year, according to SIAM.
Since Bihar implemented its liquor prohibition law in April 2016, over 1.7 million people have been arrested for offences related to alcohol consumption and sale. The state's Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department reports high conviction rates and significant revenue collection despite the ban.
India's industrial production growth decelerated to a five-month low of 4.1 per cent in March, primarily due to the subdued performance of the manufacturing and power sectors, exacerbated by the West Asia crisis.
IT firm Tech Mahindra announced a 16 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 1,353.8 crore for the January-March quarter of FY26, with revenue from operations rising 12.6 per cent to Rs 15,076.1 crore, driven by an accelerated transition to an AI-led organisation and record deal wins.
Under the TMC, Bengal has seen expansion of welfare, but not big-ticket private investment.
State Bank of India (SBI) reported a 6 per cent increase in standalone net profit to Rs 19,684 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2026, driven by a significant decline in bad loans.
The Lokpal, India's anti-corruption ombudsman, has been allocated Rs 30 crore in the Union Budget 2026-27. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has been allocated Rs 54.56 crore.
PhonePe has announced it has surpassed 700 million registered users on its platform. This milestone underscores PhonePe's extensive reach in India and its diverse digital offerings in payments and financial services. The company's growth is attributed to increasing consumer trust, a strong distribution network, and a focus on user-friendly digital payment experiences.
India's toll collection growth is projected to moderate to 5-7 per cent year-on-year in FY27, a 150-200 basis points reduction, primarily due to the economic impact of the West Asia conflict and a slowdown in commercial traffic, according to Crisil Ratings.
India's retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), increased to 3.48 per cent in April, up from 3.40 per cent in March, primarily due to a surge in prices of gold and silver jewellery, as well as certain kitchen staples like tomatoes and cauliflower.
Infographics break down the key numbers and decisions, making it quick and easy to understand what the Budget means for the economy.
India's exports experienced their steepest fall in five months, declining by 7.44 per cent in March to $38.92 billion, primarily due to trade uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, with shipments to West Asia contracting by over 50 per cent.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the state has secured investment proposals worth approximately Rs 50 trillion over the past nine years, attributing this economic revival to the enforcement of the rule of law and strategic policy changes. He affirmed UP's trajectory towards becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2029-30.
'Once the currency goes out of the hand, then possibly your major challenge is that it will not come back.'
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