New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget 2026, announcing several measures aimed at making essential goods and services more affordable for citizens.

During her speech, Sitharaman highlighted the government’s plans to provide timely access to high-quality assistive devices for all eligible divyaangjan, saying the initiative will involve scaling up production of assistive devices and supporting the setting up of modern retail-style centres for their purchase.

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What gets cheaper in Union Budget 2026:

  • Medicines used in the treatment of serious diseases such as diabetes and cancer will become cheaper.
  • Seventeen medicines used for cancer treatment will be cheaper.
  • Medicines for seven serious diseases will see price reductions.
  • Diabetes medicines will also become cheaper.
  • Shoes will become more affordable.
  • Leather goods will see further price reductions.
  • Microwave ovens will become cheaper.
  • Mobile phones and EV batteries will become more affordable.
  • Items related to solar energy will be cheaper.
  • Foreign travel will become more affordable.
  • Biogas-based CNG will see cost reductions.
  • Aircraft components will become cheaper.

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What gets costlier in Union Budget 2026?

  • Umbrella and its parts
  • Gutka
  • Paan Masala
  • Beedis
  • Khanij (Minerals such as Iron, Coal, Salt)
  • Futures and derivative trading
  • Income tax misreporting: Penalty equal to 100% of the tax amount
  • Non-disclosure of movable assets: Now attracts a penalty
  • Stock options and futures trading: Securities Transaction Tax raised from 0.02% to 0.05%

Duty-free imports of certain specified inputs for leather exports sector

Sitharaman proposed duty-free imports of certain specified inputs for promoting the country's exports of leather.

The move will help provide a cushion to leather exporters who are reeling under the steep 50 per cent US tariffs.

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The country's leather and leather products shipments dipped marginally 0.23 per cent to USD 3.3 billion during April-December 2025-26.

She also exempted parts used to manufacture microwave ovens from basic customs duty.

Sitharaman announced that India will develop 15 archaeological sites, including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Sarnath, and Hastinapur.

She also proposed to extend the time period of exports of final products from six months to one year for exporters of leather and textile garments.

Further, the minister said that the government will support the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India to scale up production of assistive devices