As India gears up for Budget 2026, economists and industry leaders are sending a clear message to the Finance Ministry: the country doesn’t need a bigger financial system—it needs a smarter, more inclusive one. The next phase of growth hinges on deepening liquidity, expanding affordable credit access, and leveraging technology to serve the unserved. This shift could redefine financial inclusion for millions.
As Budget 2026 approaches, millions of salaried Indians are urging Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to raise the standard deduction under the new income tax regime—a move experts say is long overdue and critical for middle-class financial relief.
Millions of central government employees and pensioners are on edge as the 8th Pay Commission, chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, finalizes its recommendations. With a potential fitment factor as high as 2.86, salaries could nearly triple—ushering in the biggest pay revision in decades.
Indian equities nosedived on January 20, 2026, with the Sensex shedding over 1,000 points and the Nifty50 closing below 25,250. A perfect storm of weak tech earnings, renewed global trade tensions under Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, and relentless foreign investor outflows triggered a sharp risk-off sentiment—sending investors fleeing to gold and silver.
India is on the verge of joining the upper-middle income club by 2030, with its economy poised to become the world’s third-largest. But does this milestone translate to real prosperity for its 1.4 billion people? We unpack the data, the challenges, and what it truly means for everyday Indians.
The IMF has upgraded India’s 2025 growth projection to 7.3%, citing strong corporate earnings and AI-driven momentum. But behind the rosy numbers lie geopolitical tensions, valuation bubbles, and structural vulnerabilities that demand caution.