Union Budget 2026: Govt waives customs duty on cancer and rare disease drugs — key health sector updates

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting her ninth consecutive Union Budget on Sunday, announced several major healthcare measures, including customs duty waivers on 17 cancer drugs and duty exemptions for medicines for seven rare diseases. The finance minister highlighted India’s economic stability, fiscal discipline, and sustained growth under the Narendra Modi-led NDA…

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Union Budget 2026: FM Sitharaman flags health challenges; unveils Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti

. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27 on Sunday, unveiled a Rs 10,000 crore biopharma initiative and announced the expansion of Ayurveda institutions to meet growing global demand for traditional medicine. To bolster India’s position as a global biopharma hub, the Budget proposed Biopharma Shakti, a new initiative with an outlay…

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From ‘bahi-khata’ to tablet: Tracing Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget journey since 2019

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1, marking a rare Sunday sitting and a first in independent India’s history. The Union Budget for FY27 (April 2026–March 2027) is expected to outline measures to sustain growth momentum, maintain fiscal discipline and push reforms…

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Budget 2026 stock market expectations: How Sensex, Nifty have performed on Budget days in the past

Markets tend to respond positively when the Budget focuses on growth, infrastructure spending, and tax stability. (AI image) By Somil Mehta,The Union Budget is one of the most important events for Indian stock markets. Every year on February 1, investors closely watch how the Sensex and Nifty react to announcements on taxes, government spending, reforms,…

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