Budget 2026: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has delighted many industries including but not limited to fisheries, cloud computing, rural entrepreneurship, tourism and higher education. Many in the political and industrial corridors have referred this as one of the best budgets for the common man.
Let us explore the series of measures that were brought in by the Indian FM.
Budget 2026-Cloud Computing Tax Holiday Till 2047
Foreign firms that want to establish cloud service facilities (data centres, cloud infrastructure) in India would now be granted a tax holiday till 2047. This would help the country become a global leader in digital infrastructure, creating lakhs of jobs while strengthening the country’s digital sovereignty.
Under the policy, eligible foreign cloud service providers would be exempt from certain taxed on profits till 2047. This would reduce their cost of doing business with and in India, making India a highly attractive destination for global cloud capital. For companies, this would provide a long‑term, stable environment to build and expand their Indian operations, knowing that their core cloud infrastructure profits will be largely tax-free for decades.
This would help create millions of new jobs such as IT professionals, engineers (network, security and cloud), data scientists and support staff. Internet services, apps, government platforms (e‑governance, banking and healthcare apps) would now become faster, more reliable and cheaper to run, translating to better mobile banking, telemedicine, online education and government services.
For the economy, this would translate to tens of billions of dollars in FDI for building data centres, connectivity, power and cooling infrastructure, directly boosting fixed investment and infrastructure development.
Fisheries, Exports, And Aviation
Goods exported via courier/post were capped at ₹10 lakh per consignment till now. This used to hurt the growth prospects of exporters, artisans and MSMEs as they were unable to ship high-value items (like designer jewellery, electronics or premium textiles) quickly via courier.
This cap has now been removed, which would allow exporters to ship any value of goods via courier. This means faster door-to-door delivery at lower cost, helping small entrepreneurs and exporters compete globally.
Fish caught by Indian fishing vessels in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or on the high seas will be treated as “Indian origin” and made free of customs duty. This helps fishermen and exporters who process and export tuna, prawns and other marine species. It also makes Indian seafood more competitive in global markets while also encouraging more deep-sea fishing. This supports food security and more affordable fish for the common man.
The government plans to roll out a single, integrated, scalable customs platform in the next two years. This would translate to faster, faceless and more predictable clearance, reducing delays and the need for physical visits to customs offices. For the common man, this efficiency will cut logistics costs, reduce corruption and help keep import prices stable.
Agriculture, agro-processing and rural entrepreneurship initiatives
Nirmala Sitharaman also introduced a powerful set of agriculture, agro-processing and rural entrepreneurship initiatives. It would transform raw Indian produce into premium global brands, strengthen key sectors like fisheries and coconut, and empower small farmers and rural women entrepreneurs.
The Union Government wants to transform Indian cashew and Indian cocoa into premium global brands by 2030. This goes beyond just exports, it’s about improving quality, branding value-added products (like chocolate, cashew butter and flavoured snacks), and linking farmers directly with global buyers and eCommerce platforms.
For farmers, this means better and more stable prices, reduced dependence on middlemen, and access to modern processing and packaging units. For consumers, both in India and abroad, it will mean high-quality, branded Indian cashew and cocoa products at competitive prices. Over time, this can create thousands of jobs in processing units, packaging, logistics and marketing.
The government would enter into partnerships with state governments to restore the glory of the Indian sandalwood ecosystem. This includes scientific cultivation, strengthening forest nurseries, setting up dedicated sandalwood parks, and promoting sustainable harvesting and value addition like oil, soaps and cosmetics.
A new coconut promotion scheme aims to increase production and productivity, supporting about 30 million people, including 10 million coconut farmers. The focus is on high-yielding varieties, better irrigation, pest management and value-added products like coconut oil, desiccated coconut and coconut water.
A pilot scheme will upskill 10,000 guides in 20 iconic tourist sites through a standardized, 12‑week hybrid training course in collaboration with an IIM. The training will cover history, storytelling, local culture, multiple languages, and digital tools like apps and audio guides.
For local guides, this will bring formal certification, better pay and more dignified work. For tourists, it will mean more authentic, engaging and informative experiences, instead of unstructured or rushed tours.
Tourism, Hospitality And Education
The Budget proposes to upgrade the existing National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology into a National Institute of Hospitality. This will raise the standard of hotel management, food safety, service quality and tourism-related skills across the country.
The government will support states in setting up 5 regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector. Each hub will have advanced diagnostics, post-care and rehabilitation facilities, AYUSH centres (for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), and a medical value tourism facilitation centre for foreign patients.
For patients, this will mean access to high-quality, integrated healthcare (modern as well as traditional) in regional centres, reducing the need to travel to metros.
A new National Institute of Design (NID) will be set up in eastern India to promote design education and boost creative industries. This will cover product design, sustainable design, digital design, fashion and architecture, and will work closely with MSMEs, exporters and local industries. For students in the eastern region, this will mean access to a top design institute without having to move far away, along with better job opportunities in design, fashion, and manufacturing.
The Budget allocates funds to set up or upgrade 4 telescope infrastructure facilities across the country to promote astronomy and astrophysics.
Is this the best common budget till date for the common man?
