Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made several announcements during her 9th consecutive Union Budget speech on Sunday. A large section of people who consume 'Sin Goods' like alcohol and cigarettes, will be affected by increased prices of such items as the government has levied more taxes. The prices of cigarettes and tobacco products have increased due to more taxes and excise duties. Meanwhile, the main attraction of the Union Budget 2026 was the government's proposal to intensively increase rail infrastructure in the country. Seven high-speed rail corridors were announced by the Finance Minister connecting major metropolitan cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.

Source: dna February 01, 2026 14:51 UTC