Budget Delivered on Historic Sunday Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the FY 2026‑27 Union Budget in Parliament on Sunday, February 1 2026, marking the first time the budget has been delivered on a Sunday in Indian history [1]. The budget outlined revenue, expenditure and deficit targets for the coming fiscal year. Sitharaman also highlighted fiscal consolidation goals while emphasizing continued investment in infrastructure and social schemes.

Economic Survey Sets Growth and Inflation Benchmarks The Economic Survey was tabled on January 31 2025, providing a performance recap and framing the budget’s assumptions [1]. It projected real GDP growth for FY 26 between 6.8 % and 7.2 %, citing strong domestic fundamentals despite external uncertainties. The Survey recorded average headline inflation of 1.7 % for April‑December 2025 and affirmed the government’s trajectory toward meeting its FY 25 fiscal‑deficit target of 4.4 % of GDP.

India‑EU Trade Pact Expands Market Access India and the European Union signed a bilateral agreement dubbed the “Mother of all deals,” granting preferential entry for over 99 % of Indian exports into the EU [1]. The pact opens 102 EU sub‑sectors to Indian high‑tech services and 144 EU sub‑sectors to Indian investors, linking economies that together represent about 25 % of global GDP and 11‑12 % of world trade. Officials expect the deal to boost export volumes and attract foreign direct investment.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Killed in Plane Crash Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday, January 28 2026, when his aircraft crashed while landing near 8:40 a.m. in the Baramati area of Pune district, killing him and four others [1]. The incident prompted immediate condolences from national leaders and raised questions about aviation safety protocols for political figures. Investigations were launched to determine the cause of the crash.