New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) has sanctioned more than 52.37 crore loans disbursing a total of Rs. 33.65 lakh crore since its launch in April 2015, according to an official fact-sheet.Around 70 per cent of loans went to women entrepreneurs and about 50 per cent to borrowers from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes, the fact-sheet said.A category‑wise breakdown of loan sanctions showed that Shishu loans account for 78 per cent of the number…
Latest Union Budget News & Updates
New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) The government has notified the Finance Act 2026 to bring into effect the financial proposals of the Union Budget for 2026-27.A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice stated: “The Finance Act 2026 received the assent of the President on March 30, 2026 and is hereby published for general information.”The Parliament on Friday approved the Finance Bill 2026 with the Rajya Sabha returning it to the Lok Sabha by a voice vote, completing the legislati…
New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) With the FY26 fiscal set to end on Tuesday, investors are gearing up for several reforms, including revised Securities Transaction Tax (STT) rules that will come into effect from April 1.Many brokers, traders and demat account holders are concerned about the sharp increase in STT on futures and options (F&O) trades, following revisions announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget FY26-27. She had also proposed a significant increase in charg…
New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) The standard insurance coverage for bank locker holders is fixed at 100 times the annual locker rent in case of any loss, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.Replying to a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, FM Sitharaman clarified that banks are not allowed to check or record the valuables kept by customers in lockers, as doing so would violate banking regulations.”Because of this restriction, it is not possible to offer insura…
New Delhi, March 29 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underscored the importance of harnessing the energy of the country’s youth for nation-building, stating that initiatives like Mera Yuva Bharat play a crucial role in channelising their potential.Speaking during the 132nd episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said, “India is the world’s youngest country. When the power of the nation’s youth is harnessed for nation-building, it provides immense …
New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) Exports from operational special economic zones (SEZs) totalled over Rs. 11.70 lakh crore in 2025‑26 (till December 2025), marking a 32.02 per cent increase from 2024, the government said on Saturday.There are 368 notified SEZs in India (as of February end) and the total investment in those areas stand at Rs 7.86 lakh crore, the official statement said.SEZs employed over 31.73 lakh people (as of December 2025), it added.The Union Budget 2026‑27 proposed a special o…
New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed confidence that the NDA will once again receive the mandate of the people in Puducherry, stating that the ‘double-engine’ government has fulfilled the aspirations of the Union Territory over the past five years. PM Modi also said that he will join ‘Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot Samvaad’ in Puducherry on March 30. Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, “Over the last 5 years, the double-engine NDA Gove…
Mumbai, March 25 (IANS) The proposed hike in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on derivatives, effective from April 1, is likely to have a limited short-term impact on trading activity, with long-term market behaviour expected to remain largely unchanged, experts said.They noted that the increase in STT will raise trading costs, particularly for retail participants and high-frequency traders, potentially leading to a temporary decline in futures and options (F&O) volumes.“Higher transaction…
Agartala, March 20 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that the Tripura budget for the financial year 2026-27 is aimed at ensuring inclusive development and will benefit people from all sections of society. He stated that the budget presented by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy in the state Assembly on March 16 is a truly people-oriented one, reflecting the state government’s commitment to transparency and balanced growth.Saha made these remarks in the Assembly while pa…
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s release of over Rs 18,640 crore as the 22nd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme this month has enabled over 9.32 crore farmers to receive financial assistance, out of whom 2.15 crore are women farmers.The total money disbursed since the launch of the scheme has now shot past Rs 4.27 lakh crore, making PM-KISAN one of the world’s largest direct benefit transfer initiatives, according to an official facts…