Budget 2026: Need for an overhaul of the TDS framework

Budget 2026: Need for an overhaul of the TDS framework

The requirement to issue TDS and TCS certificates is increasingly seen as redundant. (AI image) India’s tax deduction at source (TDS) framework, originally designed as a mechanism to ensure steady revenue inflows and improve tax compliance, has over the years become a source of complexity, cash-flow stress and litigation for businesses. With the scope of…

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Budget 2026: Top 4 things FM Sitharaman should do for gold loan NBFCs

Budget 2026: Top 4 things FM Sitharaman should do for gold loan NBFCs

Budget 2026 should introduce a gold-linked credit line via UPI, enabled for NBFCs. (AI image) By George Alexander MuthootUnion Budget 2026 comes at a critical juncture for India’s growth journey. With political stability, resilient macro fundamentals and strong domestic demand, the government has an opportunity to deepen financial inclusion while accelerating credit-led growth. For the…

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Budget 2026: Govt should avoid hiking surcharge on super-rich, reviving wealth tax; why experts warn of capital flight

Budget 2026: Govt should avoid hiking surcharge on super-rich, reviving wealth tax; why experts warn of capital flight

Tax experts have cautioned the government against raising the income tax surcharge on high-income individuals or reintroducing a wealth tax in the Union Budget 2026-27, warning that such moves could push wealthy taxpayers to relocate to low-tax jurisdictions and hurt investment and job creation.At present, individuals earning over Rs 50 lakh are subject to a…

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Budget 2026: CII pitches demand-led, faster privatisation of PSEs; seeks three-year pipeline

Budget 2026: CII pitches demand-led, faster privatisation of PSEs; seeks three-year pipeline

Industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for a faster, demand-driven privatisation strategy for public sector enterprises (PSEs) in the Union Budget 2026-27, urging the government to adopt a predictable roadmap to unlock value from disinvestment and mobilise resources for capital expenditure amid global economic uncertainties.In its Budget proposals, CII suggested an accelerated…

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Budget 2026: State leaders meet FM Nirmala Sitharaman for pre-Budget talks; urge GST compensation, more capex support

Budget 2026: State leaders meet FM Nirmala Sitharaman for pre-Budget talks; urge GST compensation, more capex support

Budget to presented on February 1 (Image credit: IANS) State leaders met with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday for pre-budget discussions, where they reportedly asked for increased financial support for capital investments and compensation for GST revenue losses. The states also asked for more funding for urban and rural development, housing programs, and disaster…

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Budget 2026: PHDCCI pitches green bank to finance renewable energy, EVs and climate tech

Budget 2026: PHDCCI pitches green bank to finance renewable energy, EVs and climate tech

Industry body PHDCCI has suggested that the government set up a dedicated Green Bank or Climate Finance Facility in the upcoming Union Budget to help channel private capital into green technologies such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and electric vehicles, PTI reported.The proposal was made during a pre-Budget interactive session with representatives from the banking,…

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Budget 2026: Rs 1.52 lakh crore locked in Customs disputes; Govt may consider amnesty, duty slab rationalisation

Budget 2026: Rs 1.52 lakh crore locked in Customs disputes; Govt may consider amnesty, duty slab rationalisation

Representative file photo (Budget 2025) With more than Rs 1.52 lakh crore of customs duty locked in litigation, the government may consider introducing an amnesty scheme in the Union Budget for 2026–27 to bring closure to long-pending disputes and provide certainty to businesses, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP said on Thursday, PTI reported.The government could…

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Budget 2026: Assocham pitches incentives for hydrogen-based steel; green finance to cut carbon footprint

Budget 2026: Assocham pitches incentives for hydrogen-based steel; green finance to cut carbon footprint

Ahead of the Union Budget for 2026–27, industry body Assocham has urged the government to roll out incentives for hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) production and concessional green finance to help the steel sector transition towards low-carbon manufacturing, PTI reported.In its pre-Budget recommendations, the chamber also called for incentives to promote waste-heat recovery systems and…

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