Top Highlights of Union Budget 2025-26

 *Top Highlights of Union Budget 2025-26* 

📌 *Tax Reforms*

✅ *No Income Tax* for income up to *₹12 lakh*under the new regime.  

✅ *Two Self-Occupied Properties* can now be valued at *Nil* for tax purposes (up from one).  

✅ *TDS Threshold on Rent* raised to *₹6 lakh* (from ₹2.4 lakh).  

✅ *TCS on Education Loans* up to *₹10 lakh* removed for loans from specified financial institutions.  

✅ *Time Limit for Updated Returns* extended from 2 years to *4 years*.  

✅ *New Income Tax Bill* to be introduced next week, focusing on *simplification* and *ease of compliance*.  

✅ *TDS/TCS Rationalisation*: Reduced number of rates and adjusted thresholds to benefit the middle class.  

✅ *Faceless Assessment* and *Taxpayer Charter* to continue, with 99% of returns processed based on self-assessment.  

📌 *Healthcare & Education*  

✅ 10,000 additional medical seats in 2025-26; 75,000 seats targeted in 5 years.  

✅ 200 new cancer centers to be established.  

✅ 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in govt schools; broadband for all secondary schools.  

📌 *Infrastructure & Economy*

✅ Fiscal deficit target: 4.8% (FY25), 4.4% (FY26).  

✅ ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund for city growth hubs.  

✅ Modified UDAN scheme to connect 120 new destinations.  

✅ 100GW nuclear energy target by 2047.  

📌 *Agriculture & Rural Development*

✅ Kisan Credit Card limit increased to ₹5 lakh.  

✅ 6-year ‘Atmanirbharta Mission’ for self-reliance in pulses.  

✅ Makhana Board to be set up in Bihar for value addition.  

📌 *MSMEs & Startups*

✅ Credit guarantee cover for MSMEs raised to *₹10 crore*.  

✅ Deeptech Fund of Funds to boost tech innovation.  

✅ FDI in insurance hiked to *100%*.  

📌 *Women & Youth Empowerment*

✅ New scheme for SC/ST women offering *5-year term loans*.  

✅ 5 National Centres of Excellence for Skilling to equip youth.  

✅ Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 to benefit 8 crore children & 1 crore mothers.  

📌 *Tourism & Culture* 

✅ Homestays to get Mudra loans; medical tourism to be promoted.  

✅ Top 50 tourist destinations to be developed with states.  

📌 *Green Energy & Sustainability*

✅ Incentives for renewable energy projects.  

✅ Mission for solar PV cells, electrolysers, and grid-scale batteries.