If falling asleep feels harder than it should – racing thoughts, tight muscles, midnight wake-ups- the answer may not lie in another sleep app or herbal tea. Increasingly, doctors are pointing to a simple mineral deficiency that quietly disrupts the body's ability to wind down: magnesium
After the Salman Ali Agha led side secured Pakistan's first T20I victory against Australia in eight years, PM Shehbaz Sharif took to his X account to laud the team and the Pakistan Cricket Board. Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has sparked a social media firestorm after taking a sharp dig at
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation told the Delhi High Court on Friday that weekly rest for pilots is non-negotiable and that no airline has been granted any exemption from this requirement, Bar and Bench reported. Appearing before a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya
Ruling that the right to menstrual health is a part of the fundamental right to life, the Supreme Court on Friday directed all states and Union Territories to ensure adolescent students in private and government schools are provided bio-degradable sanitary pads for free, PTI reported
The Donald Trump administration lifted key sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry, authorizing US companies to buy, sell, transport and refine Venezuelan crude as the White House declared Washington intends to control the nation's oil sales “indefinitely" following the dramatic military raid
Amid the international embarrassment after it emerged that the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) has sent a rape-accused as coach for a competition in Jordan, the body's Secretary General has told to have been “absolutely sidelined" by the Executive Committee (EC) and he played no role in
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has signed a historic law opening Venezuela's oil sector to private firms, reversing decades of state control. The move follows the capture of Nicolas Maduro and aims to revitalise the industry through foreign investment and US cooperation
A video making rounds on social media shows an unusual incident in which a man claims that a phone stolen from his car was unexpectedly returned, a moment many viewers have linked to faith and conscience. The clip is said to be from a spiritual congregation and features the man sharing his
Budget 2026: Bigger tax relief for the middle class? Here’s what we know
Budget 2026: Bigger tax relief for the middle class? Here’s what we know so far
As Budget 2026 approaches, households across India are not just watching, they're hoping. After last year's big reforms, expectations are now focused on deeper relief, better savings incentives and simpler compliance.
New Delhi: All eyes are now on the Union Budget 2026–27, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present on February 1, 2026 notably falling on a Sunday. With last year's Budget bringing major income tax relief by making earnings up to Rs 12 lakh effectively tax-free under the new regime (and up to Rs 12.75 lakh for salaried individuals after the Rs 75,000 standard deduction), expectations are running high. Taxpayers across the country are now keen to see whether the upcoming Budget will offer further relief or introduce new changes that impact their finances.
Before looking ahead to Budget 2026, it's important to understand what was announced in the previous Budget. The government made several key changes under the new tax regime (which became the default from FY 2025–26), giving significant relief to middle-class taxpayers.
Add Zee News as a Preferred Source
Here's a simple breakdown of the revised income tax slabs under the new regime:
Up to Rs 4 lakh: No tax
Rs 4–8 lakh: 5 per cent
Rs 8–12 lakh: 10 per cent
Rs 12–16 lakh: 15 per cent
Rs 16–20 lakh: 20 per cent
Rs 20–24 lakh: 25 per cent
Above Rs 24 lakh: 30 per cent
One of the biggest highlights was the improved rebate under Section 87A, which was increased to Rs 60,000. This effectively made income up to Rs 12 lakh tax-free. For salaried individuals, the benefit went even further with the standard deduction raised to Rs 75,000, income up to Rs 12.75 lakh became tax-free under the new regime.
As Budget 2026 approaches, households across India are not just watching, they're hoping. After last year's big reforms, expectations are now focused on deeper relief, better savings incentives and simpler compliance.
Here's what many taxpayers are looking forward to:
1. More relief for the middle class
Middle-income earners are hoping for a higher standard deduction possibly from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh to help counter rising living costs. There is also buzz around tweaking tax slabs, especially for those earning between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.
With over 72 per cent of taxpayers already choosing the new tax regime, the government may further refine it to make it even more attractive, while still keeping the old regime available for those who prefer deductions.
2. Boost for investments and savings
Investors are expecting an increase in the long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax-free limit from Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 2 lakh to encourage long-term participation in equities. There are also calls to restore indexation benefits for debt mutual funds, which were removed in Budget 2025.
Many taxpayers are also hoping for a higher Section 80C limit, fresh investment-linked deductions and stronger tax benefits for NPS to encourage long-term retirement planning.
3. Higher health insurance benefits
With medical expenses rising sharply, there is strong demand to increase deduction limits under Section 80D. Both individuals and senior citizens could benefit from enhanced tax relief on health insurance premiums to ease the burden of medical inflation.
4. Support for homebuyers and real estate
The housing sector is seeking measures to revive demand, particularly among first-time buyers. Expectations include higher interest deduction limits on home loans, better HRA exemptions for tier-2 and tier-3 cities, rationalised stamp duty and registration charges, and renewed incentives for affordable housing.
5. Relief for senior citizens
Senior citizens and retirees are looking for higher tax exemptions on interest income from fixed deposits, improved tax treatment of pension and annuity income, and stronger incentives for retirement-focused savings products.
6. Simpler tax compliance
Beyond relief, taxpayers also want ease. Key expectations include simplified ESOP taxation for startup employees, smoother tax compliance for NRIs, rationalised TDS rules, and stronger digital filing systems to reduce compliance hassles for individuals and small businesses.
Source: ZeeNews
Related Posts: Big tax relief for salaried class BJP leaders welcomed Middle East Sheikhs but watched Sufi shrine vandalism with glee Pakistan losing Rs 1 trillion revenue due to rampant tax evasion HBSE Date Sheet 2026 Out For Class 10 And 12 CBSE Class 10 Maths Exam CBSE Class 12 Board Exams New Income Tax Rules Take Effect April 1 Why China views the UK visit as part of something bigger Relief for Siddaramaiah as court accepts closure report in alleged land scam Trump and his sons sue IRS and US Treasury over leaked tax information
A US museum will return three ancient bronze sculptures stolen from Tamil Nadu temples to India after detailed provenance research. The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art has announced that it will return three ancient bronze sculptures to India after investigations confirmed that the
1 minutes ago
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday (January 30, 2026) said it is "inhuman" to talk about the leadership of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) just after the tragic death of its president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. On Thursday (January 29, 2026)
1 minutes ago
Actor Anupam Kher visited Varanasi on Friday, where he offered prayers at the Sankat Mochan and Kashi Vishwanath temples. Mumbai: Veteran actor Anupam Kher visited the holy city of Varanasi, seeking blessings at the iconic Sankat Mochan Temple and the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple
1 minutes ago
Varanasi is the upcoming epic action-adventure film directed by S.S. Rajamouli. Hyderabad: It's official! Ace director S S Rajamouli has now confirmed that this much awaited pan Indian magnum opus, 'Varanasi', featuring actor Mahesh Babu in the lead, will hit screens worldwide on April 7 next year
1 minutes ago
Newcastle will play Qarabag in a two-legged play-off in an attempt to reach the last 16 of the Champions League. The Magpies drew 1-1 with defending champions Paris St-Germain on Wednesday in the league phase to seal 12th place. PSG, who finished 11th
1 minutes ago
As Budget 2026 approaches, households across India are not just watching, they're hoping. After last year's big reforms, expectations are now focused on deeper relief, better savings incentives and simpler compliance. New Delhi: All eyes are now on the Union Budget 2026–27
1 minutes ago
Samsung has announced a new smartphone lineup in India called the Galaxy F70 series, aimed at younger users who use their phones mainly to create and share content. The company made the announcement on Thursday, saying the new series is built around the idea that the smartphone camera has become a
1 minutes ago
Israeli forces conducted overnight strikes in Rafah, Gaza. Three terrorists were eliminated. This occurred while a fragile ceasefire remains in place. The US-brokered truce has been active for over three months. Both sides have accused each other of violations
1 minutes ago
The families of 16 Indian seafarers held in Iran since December say they are anxious about the fate of their loved ones as the geopolitical situation in the region remains tense. On 8 December, Iranian authorities seized an oil tanker, MT Valiant Roar, while it was in international waters
1 minutes ago
Union Budget 2026 Income Tax Expectations Live Updates: As the Economic Survey 2025–26 was tabled in Parliament yesterday, it has set the stage for the upcoming Union Budget 2026, offering a detailed snapshot of India's economic performance, challenges and outlook ahead of the Budget speech
1 minutes ago
Tilak Varma is part of India's 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup that starts from February 7. Rising batting star Tilak Varma is nearing full fitness and is expected to take part in a simulation game at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru
1 minutes ago
A cramping Carlos Alcaraz had to draw on every physical and mental reserve to come back from the brink and beat Alexander Zverev to reach a first Australian Open final. Spain's Alcaraz came through 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 after an enthralling five hours and 27 minutes - but the
1 minutes ago
Israel's military has accepted that around 70,000 Palestinians were killed during the war in Gaza, after having earlier cast doubt on death tolls reported by the enclave's health officials, Israeli media reported on Friday (January 30
1 minutes ago
Sabarimala gold theft case: The actor was questioned after videos surfaced showing him participating in a puja organized in Chennai in 2019 by Potti. Kochi: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala gold theft case has recorded a formal statement from actor Jayaram at his
1 minutes ago
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticized the government's approach to the Right to Information Act. He stated the government is systematically weakening the law. Kharge pointed to the murder of over 100 RTI activists since 2014
1 minutes ago
2026 Renault Duster: Renault has finally pulled the covers off the new-generation Duster for India, and it has made a strong first impression. But despite all this, the 2026 Duster still misses out on a few important things that prevent it from being a perfect package
1 minutes ago
Nothing CEO Carl Pei has confirmed that Phone 3 will be its flagship model for 2026 which means we won't be seeing a premium Phone 4 model this year. They company is sticking with its 2-year upgrade policy which was also evident when the Phone 2 was announced in the market
1 minutes ago
hat happened to Sadhvi Prem Baisa? Jodhpur police investigate the mysterious death of the 23-year-old preacher following a fatal injection. From missing CCTV footage to a cryptic "Agni Pariksha" Instagram post, explore the unanswered questions behind the case
1 minutes ago
US President Donald Trump has voiced strong concerns regarding Britain's engagement with China. He described the dealings as very dangerous for the UK. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently in Beijing for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump also extended his warning to Canada
1 minutes ago
Ola Electric to lay off 5% of workforce as part of restructuring effort, according to a Reuters report.Ola Electric to lay off 5% of workforce as part of restructuring effort, according to a Reuters report.(This is a breaking news. More to come)Ola Electric to lay off 5% of workforce as part of
1 minutes ago
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra cleverly roasted Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the latter's remark on his country's win over Australia in the first T20I on Thursday. With the T20 World Cup 2026 fast approaching, Australia have toured Pakistan for a three-match T20I series as a
1 minutes ago
Over the past few years, the University Grants Commission (UGC), the statutory body responsible for the coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards in university education, has rolled out a series of changes in higher education aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
1 minutes ago
A recently shared video exposing the inner workings of a quick-commerce food kitchen has reignited discussions on how ultra-fast delivery apps prepare meals. The footage shows shelves stacked with large frozen batches of dal, rice, kadhi, parathas and even rasmalai awaiting rapid reheating rather
1 minutes ago
Kolkata police have arrested two senior officials from a momo manufacturing unit following a devastating fire that engulfed the premises and two godowns. The arrests of the unit's manager and deputy manager come days after the owner of a linked decorator company was taken into custody
1 minutes ago
Panama's Supreme Court has annulled contracts allowing a Hong Kong-based company to operate container ports on the Panama Canal. The ruling comes a year after US President Donald Trump claimed China was "operating the Panama Canal" - the main shipping link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans -
1 minutes ago
The Pacific island of Bougainville has rejected a partnership with Chinese miner CMOC to reopen a gold and copper mine that was among the world's largest before it was shut by a bloody civil war, instead opting to deal with an Indian company. With a population of 3,00,000
1 minutes ago
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz made it to his first-ever Australian Open Final, defeating third seed Alexander Zverev in a 5-hour-long game on Friday. The Spaniard fought through cramps and a tense five-set battle to beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5
1 minutes ago
