Business
India’s Rail Electrification Drive Crosses 99% Of Total Network
New Delhi: The Indian Railways is close to completing the electrification of almost its entire broad-gauge network, with more than 99 per cent already electrified and the remaining stretches expected to finish soon, according to a statement issued by the Railways Ministry on Sunday.
“The pace of work in recent years has been extraordinary. Between 2019 and 2025, Indian Railways electrified over 33,000 route kilometres, working at an average speed of more than 15 Route KMs every single day. The total distance electrified during this period alone is almost equal to the entire railway network of Germany, showing the scale and seriousness with which India has expanded clean and efficient rail traction,” the statement said.
India’s achievement stands out even when compared with countries that have long-established railway systems. India has managed to electrify nearly its entire broad-gauge system despite operating one of the world’s largest and busiest rail networks.
This transition has reduced diesel consumption, cut emissions, lowered operational costs, and improved the efficiency and speed of train operations. While several advanced economies still depend heavily on diesel traction due to cost or structural limitations, India has moved forward with clear planning and consistent execution.
As the final stretches are completed, the country is set to operate one of the world’s largest fully electrified railway systems, supporting Indian Railways’ goal of becoming a net-zero carbon emitter and offering cleaner, faster and more reliable mobility to millions of passengers every day.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had informed Parliament on Wednesday that Indian Railways has planned to progressively meet its electric power requirement for traction purposes through renewable energy sources with a combination of solar, wind and other renewable sources based on strategic power procurement planning, thereby reducing its carbon emissions.
The minister said that till November 2025, about 812 megawatt (MW) of solar plants and about 93 MW of wind power plants have been commissioned, which are meeting the traction requirements of Indian Railways. Further, 100 MW of renewable power under the Round the Clock (RTC) mode tied up from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has also started flowing for traction purposes.
In addition to this, 1,500 MW of renewable capacity under the RTC mode has been tied up to meet the traction power requirement. This is a hybrid solution consisting of solar, wind, and storage components.
He further stated that Indian Railways is now manufacturing and commissioning state of the art three-phase IGBT technology-based locomotives. These locomotives have regenerative features and are, therefore, able to regenerate part of the energy consumed during braking and are, therefore, more energy efficient.
India’s budget focuses on infrastructure and defence spending and tax breaks for data-centre investments.
Source link
Business
New Income Tax Act 2025 to come into effect from April 1, key reliefs announced in Budget 2026
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that the Income Tax Act 2025 will come into effect from April 1, 2026, and the I-T forms have been redesigned such that ordinary citizens can comply without difficulty for ease of living.
The new measures include exemption on insurance interest awards, nil deduction certificates for small taxpayers, and extension of the ITR filing deadline for non-audit cases to August 31.
Individuals with ITR 1 and ITR 2 will continue to file I-T returns till July 31.
“In July 2024, I announced a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act 1961. This was completed in record time, and the Income Tax Act 2025 will come into effect from April 1, 2026. The forms have been redesigned such that ordinary citizens can comply without difficulty, for) ease of living,” she said while presenting the Budget 2026-27
In a move that directly eases cash-flow pressure on individuals making overseas payments, the Union Budget announced lower tax collection at source across key categories.
“I propose to reduce the TCS rate on the sale of overseas tour programme packages from the current 5 per cent and 20 per cent to 2 per cent without any stipulation of amount. I propose to reduce the TCS rate for pursuing education and for medical purposes from 5 per cent to 2 per cent,” said Sitharaman.
She clarified withholding on services, adding that “supply of manpower services is proposed to be specifically brought within the ambit of payment contractors for the purpose of TDS to avoid ambiguity”.
“Thus, TDS on these services will be at the rate of either 1 per cent or 2 per cent only,” she mentioned during her Budget speech.
The Budget also proposes a tax holiday for foreign cloud companies using data centres in India till 2047.
Business
Budget 2026 Live Updates: TCS On Overseas Tour Packages Slashed To 2%; TDS On Education LRS Eased
Union Budget 2026 Live Updates: Union Budget 2026 Live Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament, her record ninth budget speech. During her Budget Speech, the FM will detail budgetary allocations and revenue projections for the upcoming financial year 2026-27. Sitharaman is notably dressed in a Kanjeevaram Silk saree, a nod to the traditional weaving sector in poll-bound Tamil Nadu.
The budget comes at a time when there is geopolitical turmoil, economic volatility and trade war. Different sectors are looking to get some support with new measures and relaxations ahead of the budget, especially export-oriented industries, which have borne the brunt of the higher US tariffs being imposed last year by the Trump administration.
On January 29, 2026, Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2025-26, a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s macro-economic situation, in Parliament, setting the stage for the budget and showing the government’s roadmap. The survey projected that India’s economy is expected to grow 6.8%-7.2% in FY27, underscoring resilience even as global economic uncertainty persists.
Budget 2026 Expectations
Expectations across key sectors are taking shape as stakeholders look to the Budget for support that sustains growth, strengthens jobs and eases financial pressures:
Taxpayers & Households: Many taxpayers want practical improvements to the income tax structure that preserve simplicity while supporting long-term financial planning — including broader deductions for home loan interest and diversified retirement savings options.
New Tax Regime vs Old Tax Regime | New Income Tax Rules | Income Tax 2026
Businesses & Industry: With industrial output and investment showing resilience, firms are looking for policies that bolster capital formation, ease compliance, and expand infrastructure spending — especially in manufacturing and technology-driven sectors that promise jobs and exports.
Startups & Innovation: The startup ecosystem expects incentives around employee stock options and capital access, along with regulatory tweaks that encourage risk capital and talent retention without increasing compliance burdens.
Also See: Stock Market Updates Today
The Budget speech will be broadcast live here and on all other news channels. You can also catch all the updates about Budget 2026 on News18.com. News18 will provide detailed live blog updates on the Budget speech, and political, industry, and market reactions.
We are providing a full, detailed coverage of the union budget 2026 here, with a lot of insights, experts’ views and analyses. Stay tuned with us to get latest updates.
Also Read: Budget 2026 Live Streaming
Here are the Live Updates of Union Budget 2026:
WIRED’s Guide to Actually Fun Valentine’s Day Gifts
Between the sheets at the college Excel championships
The Information Networks That Connect Venezuelans in Uncertain Times
-
Fashion1 week agoSouth Korea tilts sourcing towards China as apparel imports shift
-
Sports5 days agoPSL 11: Local players’ category renewals unveiled ahead of auction
-
Sports1 week agoWanted Olympian-turned-fugitive Ryan Wedding in custody, sources say
-
Tech1 week agoStrap One of Our Favorite Action Cameras to Your Helmet or a Floaty
-
Entertainment1 week agoThree dead after suicide blast targets peace committee leader’s home in DI Khan
-
Tech1 week agoThis Mega Snowstorm Will Be a Test for the US Supply Chain
-
Sports1 week agoStorylines shaping the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season
-
Fashion1 week agoSpain’s apparel imports up 7.10% in Jan-Oct as sourcing realigns