TIME FOR 'PORIBARTAN' IN POLITICS

 

BY APURVA RAI

S

OMETIMES, some days come with a series of happenings that jolt you from the inside out. First, it was a boat tragedy in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh; then it was the BJP’s historic victory in West Bengal, and lastly, there were the austerity measures announced by the government, asking people to renounce numerous things that affect their lifestyle.

In all three incidents, I could see a strange relationship between the people and a very special breed called the politicians. These are the politicians who settle down in their careers riding on the shoulders of the common people. Once their dreams come true, their vested interests and personal preferences become top priorities and the common person, who also happens to be the voter, is pushed to the number two slot. They become a special class of society that elects them, they get special powers that elevate them beyond the ordinary, while they get special privileges for a lifetime, which gives them a special status. And yet, they continue to be people’s representatives. The recent developments present a classic example of the double role and the priorities of our political set-up.  

CHANGING COLOURS

The nation witnessed two major contrasting incidents within a short span of one week. On April 30, a boat, Narmada Queen, capsized in the turbulent waters in Bargi Dam reservoir (Narmada River) in Jabalpur in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Over a dozen innocent lives were lost. Nobody expected that the people who were holidaying on the cruise would drown because of the sheer negligence of the administrative machinery. The country cried when the picture of a woman holding her baby tight to her chest took the internet by storm. 

A debate ensued. Everyone wanted to know who was responsible for this mishap and who would guarantee that a lesson had been learned and such a mishap would not recur.

In just a couple of days, the mood of the nation changed. The right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party won the Assembly elections in West Bengal, uprooting the Trinamool Congress, which had commanded power in the state for the last 15 years. People danced on the streets while the political leadership cheered them. The Trinamool bastion was broken, and a long era of the Mamata Banerjee government had ended. Poribartan (change) was realised, which the political leadership in New Delhi celebrated with big aplomb.  

While the nation was trying to settle down with kabhi khushi, kabhi gham, another bombshell was dropped when the prime minister issued an appeal to the people to adopt several austerity measures to help the country’s sinking economy in the wake of the war in the Gulf region. The announcement sparked debate, as the common person in the country is not lucky enough to live an extravagant life. Inflation, rising costs, high cost of living, underemployment, fear of layoffs and now the austerity measures. The common person is in a dilemma. One still tries to understand who should adhere to the announcement— the commoners or the others whom we call the ‘special class’.

While people were debating the tragic loss of human lives in the boat tragedy and the negligence of the authorities, the political victory in West Bengal metamorphosed the atmosphere, and the mood swing was so obvious for everyone to see. We saw big statements, bigger words of thanks and the biggest gratitude to the people of West Bengal. The headlines were replaced. Poribartan, in all senses, was visible.

NOT ONE ACCIDENT

It is not about the Bargi Dam mishap alone; it is about the recurrence of such incidents, the loss of human lives for no fault of theirs, living in fear, an accident at any corner of the road, safety issues, failure of the state machinery that we see often and the cover-ups. It is also about the acts of negligence on the part of state machinery. The Second Opinion feels it would not be wrong to say that we, the people, have learned to forego or forget and move on in our lives. We talk about them but don’t fight to set things right.

The Jabalpur tragedy didn’t take place long ago. It is a very recent incident that is largely forgotten, though it points fingers at the precarious conditions that prevail at different public places. The rough waters raised a storm. Fingers were pointed at the boat operations in Bargi Dam. How come the boat was allowed to sail despite its ‘poor health’? Did the boat operator possess a fitness certificate? Why were all the passengers not given life jackets? What emergency arrangements were there in the boat? Is there no rule to have one or two divers on board when the cruise sails into deep waters? I’m sure nobody has satisfactory answers to these questions or has proper documents to prove the fitness of the boat. When there is a rule about the age of a passenger car, then why not such a rule for boats or steamers or a holiday cruise? We have become habitual of accepting the chalta hai formula.

Jabalpur tragedy struck. Luckily, many more haven’t. Do you remember the condition of the boats in Kanyakumari that ferry you to Vivekananda Rock through the sea? How many of us feel these boats are safe and follow rules? Also, think of Chilka Lake, the largest backwater lagoon in Asia. Have you ever taken a boat ride there? Most of them do not meet safety parameters but tourism goes on because nobody is there to ask questions. Do you think ropeways are safe? Haridwar has witnessed an accident. Do you think road trips, particularly in the hills, are safe? Every year, we hear news of a bus falling into a gorge, killing several tourists. Sad but true. But who cares? Life goes on. The business goes on. Nobody asks questions until something goes wrong. Has the administration at any other place learned a lesson from the Bargi tragedy? The answer is, ‘we don’t know’.

LOOK BACK
The Second Opinion wants to rewind a little. Do you remember the Air India crash in Ahmedabad with heavy casualties or a young techie falling in a canal in Noida? He screams for his life for two hours, his father tries to gather local support for his only child but nothing could be arranged. Police reached the spot, Fire Brigade too reached. The poor lad still could not be saved. He drowned while his father watched helplessly. Can there be a more shameful accident in a country that boasts of a large, growing economy, big technology and all sorts of advancements? Do you remember the collapse of an amusement ride in the Surajkund Mela in Haryana? A police inspector lost his life and dozens of others were injured. Surely, we forget things very fast. 

So much and yet no mass protest! Not public outrage! No accountability! Every incident involves just the common person. The privileged class stays privileged. They take away the credit with a few words of sympathy. How many elected representatives have taken to the streets or conducted road shows to protest against the administrative machinery or to get justice for the victims? The same leaders knock on your doors and promise to stand by you when there is a problem. The reality check is here.

‘STATE’ OF JOY

While the victims of the Bargi Dam tragedy were still mourning and their tears had not even dried, the results were announced for the West Bengal Assembly elections. Within a few days, the mood of the nation changed as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recorded an unprecedented victory in the state. A sombre atmosphere turned perky. Big talks and bigger promises fetch the biggest results for which the BJP had been trying for years. Poribartan is realised. Bengal is a state of joy.

Euphoric political leadership was happy like never before. The representatives elected by the people now took the front stage, as their ‘hard work’ paid off. The mood changed. The atmosphere changed. Focus had shifted from Bargi to Kolkata. Everybody was cheering. 

POLITICAL POWER IS MORE IMPORTANT

The whole nation saw the change. It was not about the change of guards in West Bengal, it was about the approach, the mindset, the priorities of those who claim to be closest to common persons, their problems, their difficulties and the troubles that bother them.

The victory in Bengal proved how quickly the leadership can shift its priorities or the scale of concerns. Nobody remembers the promises made when the Madhya Pradesh Assembly went to the polls. Were they kept at the time of the Bargi Tragedy? Did the leaders, apart from party affiliations, give their hundred per cent in finding a permanent solution to the tragedy?

Two contrasting incidents present contrasting approaches to leadership. Disappointing it was, one may say!

MANY ISSUES, NO ANSWERS
For a common person, life is not easy. It is not smooth either. The leadership knows it very well and this is why it takes the lead when elections are announced. Everything is forgotten after the results are declared. It does not matter who wins or who loses; it does not matter which political party wins or loses. The approach remains the same. Those who win enjoy the privileges, those who lose indulge in mud-slinging. 

 Many issues revolve around us but life goes on without political representatives playing their role. Admission to schools is the most common of all. For every family, it is the biggest issue, but which politician has stood to find a universal system acceptable to all? What has been done to make it easier, convenient or affordable? There are government schools but even those who are part of the state machinery do not send their children to them. Why? You decide. What is your opinion on the mid-day meals in schools? How many children of the political leaders, irrespective of the party they represent, have eaten mid-day meals? None. Why? 

Every year, there are cases of paper leaks during exams. Plenty of examples to quote. Has any leader ever called a public rally against the examination system to protect the careers of our children? No, never.

The government takes pride in developing world-class expressways. How safe do you feel when you set out for a long drive in winter? How many leaders take a road show to protest against the late running of trains? Do you go to a government hospital when a near and dear one needs urgent medical aid? No. Why? Of course, you prefer a private hospital because you feel your patient will get better care. But the politicians go to a government hospital because they are the ‘privileged class’ and enjoy all such facilities, which you will never get. Any rally on this? Never.

Taking advantage of medical insurance is another big issue. How many have worked to make it better, easier and honest? Everyone knows how avaricious these private hospitals are. How many leaders have worked to make it beneficial?

Who is not aware of the parking lot mafia? We silently pay the parking fee and move on without a fuss. The result is that the mafia flourishes and no good rules are framed to make it better or more transparent. Has any leader ever discussed it?

Who doesn’t know the travelling conditions in Mumbai local trains? We have a transport ministry, a railway ministry, and there are ministers to lead them. Has anybody worked on improving local commuting or making it safer? Has any leader ever promised to make it better? Never. Intentions become clearer. Who does not face traffic jams in metropolitan cities? Has anyone ever promised to work on it seriously? No. Surely, many would have taken foreign trips to study traffic conditions in other countries. This is the privilege you get; yet, don’t expect an outcome. Just foreign tours with no accountability, no questions.  

Have you noticed any leader talking about food adulteration? No, they don’t discuss it. One possible reason is that they get the best quality food in their homes, which common people never get. Have you ever heard of any politician falling ill after consuming adulterated food? Perhaps, social issues do not carry much meaning until a mishap occurs and some people lose their lives.

Numerous issues require the urgent intervention of our elected representatives to make life smoother or more convenient. Sadly, nobody does it.

NOW THE AUSTERITY DRIVE
In the middle of the metamorphosis that the country witnessed from grief in one state to euphoria in another, there was an appeal from the prime minister that sparked more debate. The words of the prime minister were more for the common people rather than those who are at the helm of affairs. The appeal would have received widespread appreciation had it come in the form of an advisory for the privileged class.

Using swadeshi, curtailing foreign travel, refraining from buying gold, organic farming or using public transport are more relevant for those who belong to the ‘special class’ of society. Why could the PM not add staying away from buying multiple houses/ apartments or land? We know a lot of black money goes into buying a house, which remains locked or unused because it is ‘an investment’ rather than a need. The Second Opinion is still trying to figure out the difference between ‘investment in real estate’ and ‘hoarding of property’. The space, thus saved, could be better used for affordable housing. At the same time, the ‘surplus money’ too could be put to better use. If there is less scope to use black money, perhaps corruption would also come down.

Buying gold! It was never affordable for most people. Middle-class people purchase gold only on special occasions. Gold was for the rich, and even today it is for the rich. Gold was unaffordable, gold is unaffordable. Personally, I have rarely visited a reputed jewellery shop with my wife in my entire life. It is not because I never wanted to, it is because I could not afford it. My wife still dreams of buying a gold set of her choice, but the dream remains a dream. Now it has been deleted from the list too! For millions of people like me, this appeal is more relevant for news headlines. Understandably, then, gold is purchased by those who have the ‘surplus money’ because this is the easiest way to ‘store’ your currency.

The farmers of the country are poor. How do you expect them to buy organic seeds and buy organic fertilisers? The prime minister should send his officers to the remotest of the villages to find the conditions under which a farmer cultivates his field. Issuing a statement is easy without conducting a reality check. 

Public transport is a favourite topic of discussion. Has the Prime Minister been able to gift a mass public transport system to the city of Varanasi, his own constituency? No study has even been conducted to run a mini metro connecting the railway station, the Babatpur airport, the Sankat Mochan mandir and the Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Go to the railway station in Varanasi, the main city or places of public interest, and you will find chaos only. The entire city is overcrowded with all sorts of vehicles and indiscipline on the roads. Mumbai is another example where local trains are infamous for the everyday commute. Everyone talks about the difficulties in the Mumbai local with no solution found to date. It remains as dangerous as a few decades ago.

If swadeshi means buying khadi, then kindly check the prices. I, myself, want to buy more and more from the Khadi Gramodyog but cannot do so. So, I compromise with one or two products for my personal satisfaction. The rest of my needs are fulfilled in the open market. By the way, are other products available in the open market, not swadeshi? I believe everything made in India is swadeshi and is equally important. It is not necessary to visit Khadi India; you can boast of buying swadeshi by visiting your nearest local market too. 

I would have welcomed it if the prime minister had asked not to buy expensive imported wrist watches. Surely, they are not swadeshi. Still, an expensive foreign brand wrist watch is the favourite of a large number of people with ‘surplus money’. You can’t find a better way of spending. I would have also welcomed it if the prime minister had asked people not to buy multiple cars or change their personal vehicles frequently. This is not good for our environment and the road conditions in the cities. Yes, spending money on buying expensive imported cars or bikes is certainly not swadeshi. Refrain from it.  

WE HAVE LEARNT TO ADJUST
We get angry when a tragedy strikes. We discuss it for some time, but forget it soon. We live with the issues that are never addressed. We hear the election speeches of politicians, which are full of tall talk. We hear the politicians making huge promises but never take up the relevant ones when they get into power.

We also know the politicians expect the junta to change without setting an example by themselves first. It is for this reason that politics and politicians are not seen in high esteem. Many capable people do not want to get into this field. Politicians might steal the show, but this glamour is short-lived; they are forgotten just as quickly.

However, we have learnt to live in silence. We have learnt to listen. We have learnt to adjust. We are still waiting to see poribartan take place on the ground. Second Opinion hopes the day will come soon when political leaders of the country will drop double standards and not make politics an area of ridicule. One can only hope that politicians will talk about issues more beneficial for society and fulfil them. By the way, how many of us see politics as a fruitful career for our children?  None. The Second opinion feels this is the time for poribartan when personality changes, the image improves and credibility goes up.  

My Dear Sir. . .

 

 

BY APURVA RAI

MANY

 of us come across such people in our lives who would come and go, leaving an indelible impact on us. I, too, have seen and met hundreds of people. Some would attract me, others would influence me, and some would leave an appalling impression. But there are two people whom I can never forget: one, my father, late Vinay Kumar Rai, and the other, Joel C Lal, whom I regarded as none less than my godfather. Both of them command the highest respect I can ever offer to anybody in my personal life. A father is the role model for many of us but it is rare to find someone who rises to the same stature. Joel Saab or Joel sir, as we would commonly address him, too, enjoyed the same status for me.

I was left aghast when I received the message of Mr Joel’s sudden demise. A message sent by his son Yogesh, left me speechless for a few moments. I couldn’t imagine my professional world without Joel Saab. I was not expecting he would go so suddenly and so soon. But the destiny is very cruel, it snatches what you love most.

Joel Saab had called me on New Year's Eve to wish me a Happy New Year. It was, perhaps, for the first time in the past few decades that he called me first. I asked him why now, sir? I would have called you tomorrow when the New Year 2026 ushers in. He promptly responded why not on New Year's Eve itself? I happily thanked him and had some more chat for a few minutes. He even asked me to meet him when I come to Delhi. I promised. But who knew this would be our last conversation, and I would never get the chance to see him again. 

Today, when I reminisce about Joel Saab my memories take me back about four decades. I first met him when I joined the PATRIOT newspaper in New Delhi in 1987 and launched my journalistic career. Many would not have even heard the name of the newspaper. Let me mention that the PATRIOT, an English newspaper of national importance, was started by the country’s foremost woman freedom fighter Aruna Asaf Ali and was located in the Link House (now Patriot House) on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg at ITO, where many other national newspapers were published.

Initially, I was afraid of him. A tall person with a mature appearance would keep me very conscious throughout the shift I worked with him. Though he would smile quite often while working, a no-nonsense personality was enough to signal that there was no scope to take liberties. Not everyone was comfortable with him because he had his own dos and don’ts, his ways of doing things and his own style of working. It didn’t take me long to bond with Joel Saab, which continued to grow stronger with the passage of time. Perhaps I, too, had a similar personality with reservations and a way of working.

There is no second opinion that I developed closeness with Joel Saab; there was another person, P Sreekumaran, who influenced me most. Sree, as we would address him, was one of the finest editors I have come across in my life, widely respected in the journalistic world, but had his own unique ways of doing things. I have much to discuss about him, too, but that would come some other time.

Night shifts are most crucial in a newspaper when the responsibility to produce the entire edition lies on the head of the shift in charge. Joel Saab, as far as I can remember, never took leave during the night shifts and that makes him an outstanding journalist who understood the demands of his profession well. I can proudly say I did maximum night shifts with him and that gave me the best learning of the profession. Joel Saab was the most responsible person I have ever seen. Give him a task and forget about it. He would do the complete work to your utmost satisfaction.

Those were the days when computerisation had not taken place and the news came through telex machines. Lots of patience and huge paper work was needed to keep an eye on the news flow. Joel Saab was perfectly skilled in this arduous task. Being a student of the old-style of journalism, he would follow the traditional rules while producing the newspaper. He knew where and how to place the news so that it would catch attention. He told me that our eyes travel in the Z direction; hence, the most important news items should be placed accordingly. This is not taught in any classroom, but I learnt it while working only with him. 

It was not difficult to identify the pages designed by Joel Saab. Everything will be set in the correct format and uniform fonts. I can recall one incident when I was desk in-charge in one shift and he was on another. I had broken the rules and designed my page using some fancy fonts at some places and not dividing major display news items with a single-column news. We were young, adventurous, buzzing to break the rules and experiment with fancy designing. One such day Joel Saab caught hold of me. He opened the newspaper and pointed out that my page didn’t have the sobriety and looked more like ‘Nauchandi ka Mela’ (a rural fair held annually in Meerut, a city close to Delhi in western Uttar Pradesh). On the opposite side was his page which looked completely different. He didn’t scold me, he didn’t stop me, but didn’t spare the chance to intervene either. I kept arguing. He gave me another example saying do I find any difference the way people in a village dress-up for a special occasion and the way people get ready for a special occasion in a metropolitan city! I got the hint and learning, both. Later, I tried to control myself whenever I felt adventurous. This was his discipline. I haven’t forgotten it till date.

He always kept pace with the news without ever hurrying for it. If there was a development, he would patiently watch the situation so that even the latest and last-minute coverage was accommodated in the newspaper. Joel Saab would take his time, wouldn’t hesitate to make last-minute changes, if necessary, and yet finish everything within the deadline. Working on the editorial desk of a newspaper also means you have to race against time and bring out the Dak editions or the Late City edition within the stipulated time. All this, not one day or two days, but every day for months and years together. I did all this with Joel Saab and it turned out to be the greatest learning of my career. I would stay with him till the last news is picked up and sent for printing. Our pairing continued unfailingly as long as I worked in the newspaper. This is no small task. You work endlessly with someone only when you have the highest regard for him or her. I never made faces, we never got bored with each other, never felt tired of each other and I never felt bad when I had to overstay for some more time.

Working together, particularly on the night shifts, brought us closer. Not only shall we work together, but would also return home in the same car. It was Joel Saab who decided to hold me back and join him in the vehicle that was assigned for his drop-off. This eased the dropping arrangement and helped me reach home conveniently. What a planning it was! Good for the organisation which had limited resources, good for others who waited impatiently for a vehicle to get home and good for the two of us. Who would think this way nowadays? This was another side of his personality that only a few would know, appreciate or imbibe. This is why I saw a godfather in him, someone who cared for me, someone who thought of me while I was in the office.

On the other side was my father. I never had to press the call bell when I returned to my parsonage because he would be strolling on the verandah. Any season, any day of my night shift; not one day or two, but month after month, year after year, his routine continued uninterrupted as long as I worked in PATRIOT. Even a few of my colleagues who sometimes joined me in the car wondered about my father’s routine.

But these are the values. These are the values that teach you to stand strongly and firmly for someone you are deeply concerned about. I was nurtured by them, which I proudly carry even today. They will never fade except when my existence fades from this materialistic world. The WhatsApp ‘University’ or the Facebook propaganda doesn’t value these values; there is more of a show off, far from the realities of life. Perhaps this is why we are seeing huge degradation in our society. 

The first lesson I learnt from Joel Saab was the true meaning of responsibility. I worked with him for years and I don’t know when it became a part of my personality. Not only in office work, this gradually became part of my everyday life too.

Joel Saab was always very well dressed. Well-creased trousers, well-ironed shirts and well-polished shoes, he was always impeccably dressed. I never saw him coming to the office in sandals or slippers, as many others would. We had an impression that he came by car, but it was a surprise that he travelled in the DTC bus (Delhi Transport Corporation) and yet retained the crease. So unlikely as Delhi’s public transportation system, then, was a fitness test in itself. Those days, the journalists didn’t care much about fine dressing. A pair of jeans, a kurta or a cotton shirt and a Nehru (now Modi) jacket were enough to identify them.  In the beginning, I was also careless and dressed casually, though my father would intervene every now and then. Like Joel Saab, he also believed your dressing sense is your first and lasting impression. Both believed, rightly so, that a good dress up boosts your confidence too. With the passage of time, I understood how correct they were. Today I ask the younger ones to dress up well and wear clothes that match the occasion.   

I have worked in almost all formats of media. My longest innings have been with the newspaper, electronic media and then the digital media. Working the media also means you have to work in shifts, which keep rotating every week or fortnight. The shifts never give you the chance to settle down in personal life. Working in shifts also means following a strict regimen so that the body clock doesn’t lose its momentum. Otherwise, your health gets adversely affected in longer duration. Joel Saab was a perfect example of this. He was never sleepy in the night shifts, never said he was tired, never lost focus and never showed loss of energy while working. All this, because he was a disciplinarian. While working late nights, some of us would often go out for parathas, for which ITO is famous. The parathas were in addition to the dinner that we used to order from the office canteen. I had another habit too. The moment I reached office for the night shift I would order omlette-slice when the tea was served for everyone. Joel Saab didn’t say anything in the beginning. One day he intervened and said satirically, didn’t I have lunch that day? I said, no sir, I had heartful of lunch followed by a two-hour sleep. “Then why this omlette-slice every day and parathas around midnight after dinner?” I said I felt hungry and feel greedy too. He advised me to exercise control because when you are in the media, the shift system is going to stay with you for the rest of your career. If you are not doing physical exercises or similar activities regularly, you will fall ill sooner or later. Today, I realise what he said was the experience of life. His food plan never changed as long as I worked with him during the nights. During the day, he will never eat outside stuff. Joel Saab maintained very good health and had a fantastic, impressive personality. He was always smiling and always looked fresh. All this became possible only because his way of life was simple but consistent. Today I realise how important and how difficult it is to maintain consistency. It is like ‘tapasya’  (meditation) and one who achieves it never fails. So was Joel Saab. He never failed in his duties, in his work, in his routine, in his responsibilities and in all other activities of life. He was successful, he was a true journalist and on top of it, he was a great human being.

He was assiduous. His voice would be heard, his opinion would be sought by all, be it seniors or juniors. He was widely respected in the office and among colleagues. He was above controversies and guided everyone who approached him.

The respect for someone doesn’t come simply because the person is your senior or elder or enjoys a higher position in the relationship. Respect comes when you build relations, feel for someone from the core of your heart, stand like a rock, show your support and work to bring you convenience or well-being. I saw all these qualities in Joel Saab, much akin to my father. This is why I have the highest regard for my father, and him, whom I respected like a godfather. This is why my relations didn't end after I left PATRIOT, or he retired from there later. The bonding that evolved in a few years lasted our lifetime. We would talk on the phone, exchange greetings, and occasionally meet as well. 

My endless regards to you, sir! That is the second opinion.

 

 

BUDGET 2026: For You & Me

BY APURVA RAI

THE

 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the 2026- 27 budget for the 9th consecutive time on Sunday, February 1, 2026. This is the first time that the budget has been presented on Sunday, a weekly holiday.

The Finance Minister presented a ₹53.5 lakh crore budget, outlining a long-term roadmap to strengthen the country’s economy amid global uncertainties. Marching towards the objective of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) the budget targets a sustained high growth rate of approximately seven per cent. 

The finance minister said that the Budget 2026 is guided by a sense of Kartavya (duty).

• The FIRST Kartavya is to prioritise the poor, underprivileged and disadvantaged.
• The SECOND Kartavya is to accelerate economic growth and job creation.
• The THIRD Kartavya is to strengthen the economic foundations for future.

The Union Budget is quite complicated and difficult to understand for the common people. We have listed major points that concern us and are not very difficult to understand.

The focal point of the Budget is what becomes cheaper and what becomes costlier. To begin with, let us give a list of what is cheaper and what is costlier now.

CHEAPER

• Leather products
• Mobile phones and EV batteries
• Microwave Oven
• 17 cancer medicines
• Solar panels

COSTLIER

• Alcohol

SELF RELIANCE 

Launching India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 and Biopharma SHAKTI to reduce critical import dependencies.

• MSME: A new three-pronged strategy to help small businesses grow as 'Champions' through dedicated equity and liquidity support.
• Energy: A ₹20,000 crore outlay for Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage (CCUS). This will promote decarbonisation (emission reduction) in the country.  
• Tax breaks to the nuclear power project extended until 2035.
• SHE Marts: With the aim of giving more to women, particularly from rural areas, the finance minister proposed to set up SHE Marts. The Self Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts would be community-owned retail outlets within cluster-level federations. The move would help rural women becoming decision-makers and stakeholders in business and supply chain. The retail platform would promote women-made products. 
• Inland Waterways: The Budget 26 proposes to operationalise 20 new National Waterways over the next five years. Besides this, coastal cargo would also be encouraged. Sitharaman also said the ship repair ecosystem would be set up in Varanasi and Patna. 
• Rare Earth Corridors: Proposal to develop rare-earth corridors and ensure India’s supplies of rare-earth magnets. For this purpose, mineral-rich states of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will get special support from the government. This will help India to reduce dependence on China for rare-earth minerals. 
• Establishing 3 Dedicated Chemical Parks to enhance domestic production.
• Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to get dedicated rare earth corridors to promote research and mining.
• Electronics outlay increased to 40,000 crores.
• Bio-pharma Hub: Bio Pharma Shakti to be launched with dedicated allotment of Rs 10,000 crore over five years.

 TAX RELIEF

• Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for overseas education and medical treatment under LRS slashed from 5% to 2%.
• TCS on overseas tour packages reduced to 2% without any amount threshold. Earlier, it was 5%.
• Interest awarded by motor accident claim tribunals is now exempt fro
• Income Tax.
• Basic Customs Duty (BCD) exempted for 17 cancer drugs.
• A one-time 6-month foreign asset disclosure scheme introduced for small taxpayers.
• Decriminalisation of certain TDS payment delays and non-production of books.
• Duty-free allowance: Indians returning from overseas travel excluding neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar can now bring in goods worth up to Rs 75,000 duty-free. Till now this was up to Rs 50,000.
• However, there is no increase in the allowance for liquor, capped at 2 litres per passenger.
• Customs Duty: The budget has proposed to bring down customs duty on personal imports to 10%. This will provide direct benefit to the consumers. This means drop in the landed cost of everything— from electronics to fashion— that customers import privately. Effective from April 1, this would be applicable on all dutiable goods imported for personal use, except cars, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, printed books and items that need an import licence.

DEFENCE

Defence allocation in Budget 26 receives a major boost, highlighting the government’s commitment to the modernisation of armed forces, in the post-Operation Sindoor environment. The defence outlay for 2026– 27 stands at  Rs 7,84,678 crore, compared with Rs 6,81,210 crore in the previous financial year.

The finance minister announced customs duty relief to support the defence aerospace ecosystem. She proposed exempting basic customs duty on components and parts required for the manufacture of civilian, training and other aircraft, and on raw materials imported for maintenance, repair or overhaul activities by defence sector units.

TOURISM 

• Pilot scheme to upskill 10,000 tour guides across 20 destinations as part of Skill Development.   
• Plan to develop 15 archaeological sites into vibrant, experiential cultural destinations.
• Growth plans for Tier-II, Tier-III, and temple towns through the ‘City Economic Regions’.
• Buddha Circuit to be developed in North East India to preserve temples and monasteries.
• Buddhist sites in Sarnath, Kushinagar and Kapilvastu to be developed further. Plan to deploy 4,000 e-buses for easier mobility. 
• Mountain Trail: Mountains in India have plenty to offer to the tourists, both domestic and international. The Budget proposes to develop mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu Kashmir, Rakku Valley (Andhra Pradesh) in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai (Tamil Nadu- Kerala) in the Western Ghats.
• Turtle Trails: The Budget proposes to develop ‘Turtle Trails’ to promote eco-tourism and protect Olive Ridley turtle nesting sites along the coasts of Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala.
• Bird watching: The Budget plans to protect wetlands, sanctuaries and eco-parks developed or upgraded by the government. The government is developing dedicated bird-watching trails around Pulicat Lake, located on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

MEDICAL TOURISM

• Five regional medical hubs to come up in different states in collaboration with the private sector. These hubs will function as integrated healthcare complexes, bringing together medical, educational and research facilities under one ecosystem.
• Three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to be established to strengthen research and academic capacity in the field.
• Training 1.5 lakh multiskilled caregivers
• New Emergency Trauma Centres to come up in every district hospital.

EDUCATION

Education is the key to development for any country. The Budget 2026-27 understands what education means for a society that is growing fast and making a global impact. The Finance Minister has raised the allocation by over eight per cent. The Ministry of Education has been allocated Rs 1.39 lakh crore for FY 2026- 27, an increase of 8.27 per cent from Rs 1.28 lakh crore in the previous financial year.

Total fund allocation to the education sector stands at nearly 2.6 per cent of the total estimated expenditure of Rs 53.5 lakh crore for FY27. This is the highest ever allocation to the education sector, thus, clearly indicating the government's priority.

• Building 5 University Townships.
• Ensuring a girls' hostel in STEM institutions in every district.
• New National Institute of Design (NID) to be set up through the Challenge route in the eastern region of the country.
• Setting up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges.
• National Institute of Hospitality to be developed. This will work as a link between academia, government and industry. 

AGRICULTURE 

• Coconut Promotion Scheme to be launched to increase productivity of the crop. Sitharaman said about 30 million people, including nearly 10 million farmers, depend on coconuts for their livelihood, with India being the world's largest producer. 
• Cashew & cocoa: Dedicated programme to make the country self-reliant in their production and processing. The target is to transform them into premium global brands by 2030.
• Sandalwood cultivation and post-harvest processing are proposed to restore the glory of the Indian sandalwood ecosystem.
• For hilly regions, a dedicated program will support reviving old orchards and expansion of high-density cultivation of walnuts, almonds and pine nuts.
• Animal Husbandry: Giving a boost to the agricultural economy, the finance minister announced a series of schemes to strengthen the fisheries and animal husbandry sectors. The Budget makes provision for the establishment of private veterinary and para-veterinary colleges, animal hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and breeding facilities. 
• Fisheries:The government will undertake integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars and strengthen the value chain in coastal areas.

RAILWAY BUDGET

THE finance minister has allotted the highest-ever budgetary outlay in the Union Budget 2026-27 of Rs 2,78,030 crore to the Ministry of Railways. The ministry also received a record capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 2,93,030 crore in the Union Budget 2026–27. 

HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDORS

• Two new bullet train projects have been sanctioned in the Budget 2026-27. These are: Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri. 

With this, the travel time from Delhi to Varanasi would be reduced to 3 hours and 50 minutes, while the Varanasi–Siliguri journey via Patna would take around 2 hours and 55 minutes. This will also create a new economic corridor stretching from Delhi through Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to West Bengal.

• Other routes that have been sanctioned are: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bangalore, Hyderabad-Chennai and Chennai-Bangalore.

According to the railway minister Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad will form a ‘South High-Speed Triangle’. The minister called it as a ‘South High-Speed Diamond’. With the launching of these trains, the travel time between Chennai and Bengaluru would be cut to just 1 hour and 13 minutes, Bengaluru-Hyderabad journey would take around 2 hours and travel time between Chennai and Hyderabad would be reduced to about 2 hours and 55 minutes. 

 According to the Rail Budget,    the travel time between Mumbai and Pune would be reduced to just 48 minutes, while the Pune-Hyderabad journey would take around 1 hour and 55 minutes.

•  Train Speed: According to the Railway Minister the high speed trains will be running at a speed of 300 to 350 kmph.

 

DEVELOPMENT OF RAILWAY STATIONS IN DELHI

The Railway Budget also plans to develop 13 railway stations in Delhi under the ‘Amrit Station Scheme’. A sum of Rs 5,887 crore would be spent for the completion of this project. The stations to be developed are: Adarshnagar Delhi, Anand Vihar, Bijwasan, Delhi, Delhi Cantt., Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Delhi Shahadra, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Narela, New Delhi, Sabzi Mandi, Safdarjung and Tilak Bridge.

DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR

The Budget proposes a new Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) linking Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat in Gujarat. This will ease cargo movement and lead to the growth of business. This corridor will connect six states: West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The Dankuni- Surat Freight Corridor will also link the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) and the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC).

The DFC project is being executed by Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) under the Ministry of Railways.

UTTAR PRADESH GETS BIGGER SHARE

The Ministry of Railways has allocated a budgetary fund of Rs 20,012 crore for the development of rail infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh for the financial year 2026-27. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “Once again, Uttar Pradesh has received a record budget allocation”.