India & World

The increase in STT for futures and options markets is a huge spoiler for large players who have made a fortune. But there is another side to the story as well

Nirmala Sitharaman’s 81-minute-long Budget speech saw no change in income tax slabs but included a major focus on three “kartavyas” of the government.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2026 proposed raising STT on Futures and Options trading, a move that crashed the stock market on Sunday.

Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget in Parliament today and spoke about some items on which the government is planning to reduce customs duty.

The sudden fall in prices has sparked speculation over the factors behind the decline in prices of the precious metals.

“STT on options premium and exercise of options are both proposed to be raised to 0.15 per cent,” the Finance Minister said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 today, focusing on job creation, GDP growth, and infrastructure spending.

The pre-open market will start at 9 am and end at 9.08 am, and the normal market will function between 9.15 am - 3.30 pm, according to a circular issued by NSE.

A woman allegedly set ablaze a 28-year-old woman and her six-month-old son in a Nalgonda village, killing both.

Gold prices in India have, overall, been trending upward since start of the year, largely driven by weakness in equity markets and uncertainty in geopolitics