Union Budget 2025: Key Highlights, Cheaper and Costlier Items Announced
Budget 2026 Impact on Your Pocket: CNG, Medicines, Microwaves to Get Cheaper; Liquor, Cigarettes Costlier – Full List
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth consecutive Union Budget on Saturday, edging closer to the record of 10 budgets set by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai. She remains the first woman to serve as a full-time Finance Minister of India.
The Union Budget 2025-26 marks the 14th consecutive budget under the Narendra Modi government since 2014. Sitharaman emphasized that this budget aims to promote growth, ensure inclusive development, energize society and industry, improve household sentiment, and boost the spending capacity of India’s growing middle class.
Key Announcements:
- Cheaper Items Due to Customs Duty Reduction:
- Mobile phones
- Lifesaving drugs and medicines (for cancer, rare, and chronic diseases)
- EV batteries
- Frozen fish paste (Surimi)
- Wet blue leather
- Carrier-grade ethernet switches
- 12 critical minerals
- Open cells of LCD/LED TVs
- Marine products
- Cobalt products
- LED lights
- Lithium-ion battery scrap, lead, zinc, and more
- Imported cars over USD 40,000 or with engine capacity above 3,000 CC
- Imported motorcycles (CBU, SKD, CKD) with various engine capacities
- Imported vehicles for transporting 10+ persons
- Parts of electronic toys
- Synthetic flavoring essences
- Articles of jewelry and goldsmiths’ ware
- Costlier Items Due to Increased Customs Duties:
- Smart meters
- Solar cells
- Imported footwear
- Imported candles and tapers
- Imported yachts and vessels
- PVC flex films, sheets, and banners
- Certain knitted fabrics
- Interactive flat panel displays (fully built units)
The budget reflects the government’s focus on economic growth, healthcare, renewable energy, and domestic manufacturing, while also adjusting import duties to balance trade and boost local industries.
