New Financial Year 2026: What Gets Cheaper And Costlier From April 1, Full List The new financial year (FY 2026-27) begins on April 1, 2026, following the Union Budget 2026 announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1. This budget introduced significant policy changes affecting household expenses and consumer spending. Key adjustments include modifications to import duties, GST slabs, and tax structures, which are expected to influence the prices of various goods and services. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council simplified its structure from four slabs to two—5% and 18%—effective from September 22, 2025. These changes are now in effect, shaping the cost landscape for consumers. Items that are likely to become cheaper include 17 essential medicines, with reduced custom duties making treatments for conditions like diabetes and cancer more affordable. Electric vehicles (EVs) benefit from extended tax relief, lowering their cost for buyers. Leather goods and footwear are expected to see price declines due to duty-free import provisions aimed at boosting exports. Components for aircraft and microwave ovens will also become cheaper as customs duties on these items are lowered. Imported personal items, such as certain electronics and household goods, will face reduced tariffs. Locally manufactured smartphones and tablets will become more affordable, offering better upgrade options for consumers. Foreign travel and education expenses are projected to decrease due to reduced Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on overseas education, medical treatments, and international tour packages. Seafood prices may drop as duty-free benefits apply to fish caught beyond territorial waters, benefiting both fishermen and consumers.#union_budget_2026 #goods_and_services_tax #finance_minister_nirmala_sitharaman #customs_duties #gst_council
Power Finance Corporation stock soars 4%; Motilal Oswal sees more upside Power Finance Corporation’s (PFC) stock price surged 4% to ₹434.85 on the BSE on Wednesday, driven by heavy trading volumes. The stock approached its 52-week high of ₹443.95, which it last touched in April 2025. Over the past three months, PFC outperformed the broader market, rising 28% compared to a 9.4% decline in the BSE Sensex. The rally follows the company’s board approval to raise ₹1.6 trillion in FY27 through bonds, term loans, and commercial paper, excluding funds from the Extra Budgetary Resource (EBR). The merger of PFC and Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) is a key catalyst for the stock’s performance. The Union Budget 2026 proposed restructuring PFC and REC to create a unified entity, aiming to enhance efficiency and scale within public sector non-banking finance companies (NBFCs). PFC acquired a 52.63% stake in REC in 2019, making it a subsidiary. The merger is expected to consolidate overlapping functions, reduce operational costs, and strengthen bargaining power with lenders. The combined entity would become India’s largest power sector financier, with improved balance sheet strength and capital efficiency to support large-scale funding for the power sector. The merged entity is positioned to address India’s growing energy needs, particularly as the country advances toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 goals. Future investments will focus on renewable energy and emerging technologies like green hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCUS), small modular nuclear reactors, and energy storage solutions. The combined entity’s technical expertise and sector knowledge are expected to position it to capitalize on these opportunities effectively.#motilal_oswal #union_budget_2026 #power_finance_corporation #renewable_energy_corporation #viksit_bharat_2047
Income Tax update: 7 major changes coming into effect from 1 April that could impact your finances — explained The Union Budget 2026 introduced significant amendments to the Income Tax Act aimed at simplifying compliance and reducing procedural burdens for taxpayers. These changes, effective from 1 April 2026, apply to the financial year 2026-27 and include adjustments to tax collection mechanisms, filing deadlines, and specific tax categories. A key update involves the implementation of the new Income Tax Act, 2025, which replaces the existing Income Tax Act, 1961, starting from 1 April 2026. While the income tax slabs for the 2026-27 financial year remain unchanged, the new act reflects modernization efforts to align with evolving economic and technological landscapes. The filing deadlines for income tax returns have been adjusted. For non-audit taxpayers, the due date for filing ITR-3 and ITR-4 has been extended to 31 August, up from the end of the relevant tax year. This change also applies to the 2025-26 financial year. However, the deadlines for ITR-1 and ITR-2 remain at 31 July, and the tax audit deadline stays at 31 October. The revised due date for filing belated returns has been moved from 31 December to 31 March of the relevant financial year. Taxpayers filing revised returns after 31 December will now be required to pay an additional fee. Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rates have been rationalized to streamline compliance and reduce refund delays. Effective from April 2026, the following adjustments apply: The TCS rate on alcoholic beverages for human consumption increases from 1% to 2%. The TCS rate on tendu leaves is reduced from 5% to 2%. The TCS rate on scrap sales rises from 1% to 2%.#union_budget_2026 #income_tax_act_1961 #income_tax_act_2025 #liberalised_remittance_scheme #securities_transaction_tax
