At the BCA Stadium, Kotambi in Vadodara on Thursday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Delhi Capitals by six wickets to win their second Women’s Premier League championship.

With flawless ease, RCB accomplished the highest successful chase in a WPL final in 19.4 overs after captain Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored with 57 to lead DC to 203/4.

With the triumph, RCB became the first team to win the championship after leading the group stage standings and the first team to hold the IPL and WPL titles at the same time.

With 87 off 41 balls, 12 fours, and three sixes, captain Smriti Mandhana delivered her most elegant and outstanding WPL performance to date.

After managing just six runs from her first five deliveries, she began to accelerate magnificently, hitting boundaries nearly every over. Smriti became the mainstay of RCB’s dominant chase, and her knock also made her the tournament’s top run scorer.

Georgia Voll, who scored an incredible 79 off 54 balls with 14 boundaries, and Smriti shared a commanding 165-run partnership off 92 balls. The fact that there were at least one boundary in each over of the chase demonstrated how dominant their batting performance was.

Radha Yadav made sure RCB crossed the line with consecutive boundaries despite a slight wobble at the finish, which was caused by DC pitching pace-off deliveries. This led to joyous emotions in the dugout.

Despite having the greatest first innings total in a WPL final, DC, playing their fourth straight final, was the victim of the Smriti-Georgia masterclass, blasting the ball all over the park and suffering yet another heartbreaking loss.

Georgia proceeded with her strokeplay, cutting and driving Marizanne for consecutive fours after flicking Chinelle through midwicket and scooping over short fine leg for boundaries. There was no relief for DC even after Nandni Sharma was introduced; Georgia swiped her for four before Smriti slogged and swept her for two boundaries.

Before the former and later struck a four off Minnu Mani and Shafali Verma, respectively, Smriti expertly pierced off-side field. The two took a boundary apiece against N Sree Charani of Georgia, smashing her over mid-off.

Smriti danced down the field to loft Charani over long-on after catching a short ball from Nandni over square leg for six. Smriti raised her half-century by lofting Sneh Rana over additional cover for four after Georgia raised her fifty.

Smriti responded to Marizanne’s reintroduction in the 14th over with lofted drives that went straight down the ground and over mid-off. RCB was winning the chase when Georgia hoicked Nandni over midwicket and Smriti once more glided down the pitch to loft Minnu over mid-off to score more boundaries.

Smriti’s dismissal for 87 after Chinelle uprooted her leg-stump left RCB on a challenging pitch, despite Georgia and Richa Ghosh falling in short succession after holing out to long-on off Minnu and Nandni, respectively. However, Radha’s successive boundaries off Charani—crunching over cover and lofting over cover-point—secured the trophy victory for RCB.

In the past, Jemimah took control with a dazzling knock after Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma gave the early momentum. She demonstrated her incredible timing and ability to find gaps with breathtaking simplicity to score eight boundaries.

Chinelle Henry had a brilliant cameo of 35 off only 15 balls to help Delhi surpass the 200-run threshold, while Laura Wolvaardt contributed a helpful 44 off 25 balls. Chinelle’s final touch had such an impact that DC scored 55 runs in the final four overs.

With a run of 0-19 in four overs, Lauren Bell was the only bright spot for RCB with the ball. However, the rest of the attack struggled with their lines and lengths, providing scoring opportunities in every over. Following Jemimah’s departure in the sixteenth over, RCB mounted a brief comeback, but their dreams were crushed by Chinelle’s late pyrotechnics.

Jemimah demonstrated her full range in the crucial 12th over, cover-driving, sweeping, and cutting Shreyanka for three boundaries before slicing fiercely off Radha Yadav. In the 15th over, Jemimah reached her half-century before being caught by deep square leg off Sayali Satghare for 57.

However, in the last overs, Laura and Chinelle launched a vicious attack. In the 18th over, Chinelle in particular tore into Nadine de Klerk, hitting four boundaries and a six to amass 24 runs. In the last over, both of them hit boundaries off Sayali, giving up 15 runs. Laura was then run out while trying a desperation second run, as DC set RCB up for a difficult chase that they dominated.

Shreyanka Patil, an off-spin bowling all-rounder for RCB, called their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 victory “very special” and dedicated it to captain Smriti Mandhana, citing difficulties the captain has faced recently.

“Very unique to me. My WPL return season. I couldn’t have hoped for more. This crowd is lovely and has always been there for us, even though there were 200 on the board. I want to express my gratitude to every single member who has supported us. Additionally, the viewers in Bangalore and Karnataka would like to express their gratitude to you all,” she stated.

The winning runs were made by left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Radha Yadav, who commended the management for helping the players and getting them ready for stressful situations. “Everyone is overjoyed. This group has put in a lot of effort. The management has supported the players and fulfilled our requests. In fact, they’ve provided us much more than we requested. They deserve this victory.

“As athletes, we work hard; sometimes we see the results, and other times we don’t. But congratulations to the management for their hard work. Our management was really helpful. How can we enhance the skills we already possess? They supported us in discovering those paths,” she remarked.

Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals 203/4 in 20 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 57, Laura Wolvaardt 44; Arundhati Reddy 1-40, Sayali Satghare 1-46) lost to
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 204/4 in 19.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 87, Georgia Voll 79; Chinelle Henry 2-34, Minnu Mani 1-19) by six wickets

The Indian men’s cricket team is receiving a ton of support from their female counterparts as they prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The men’s squad has received passionate notes from members of the Indian women’s team, who made history by winning the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025, wishing them well as they attempt to defend their title in the forthcoming competition.

The support from their female counterparts serves as a reminder of the unity and fraternity within Indian cricket, as the Indian men’s team enters the event as the reigning champions after defeating South Africa in an exciting final of the T20 World Cup 2024.

The Indian women’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, spearheaded the effort with a strong statement of encouragement. “Best wishes for the T20 World Cup to Team India. We all know you will win if you play with all of your heart and have fun. She exuded faith in the team’s skills and remarked, “Wishing all the luck.”

“Wishing the best for the Indian Team, looking really good, we all are looking forward to another cup,” said Smriti Mandhana, vice captain of her side and one of the biggest names in women’s cricket. Recognizing the great expectations for the men’s team, she said, “But no pressure, and hopefully we can play some good cricket.”

Deepti Sharma, who was voted Player of the Series and was instrumental in India’s ODI World Cup victory, expressed enthusiasm for the forthcoming event in India, giving her remarks a hint of emotional significance. “I’m wishing you all the best; this will be a very special event that takes place in India. The all-rounder emphasized the pride and fervor that come with a home World Cup by saying, “Go get the cup home.”

Recognizing the importance of the World Cup for both sides, India’s talented wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh also conveyed her best wishes to the men’s team. She encouraged everyone ahead of what seems to be a great competition by saying, “Good luck guys, I wish you all the very best for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.”

The Indian women’s side demonstrated that the spirit of Indian cricket is unified regardless of format or gender as they achieved history by winning the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time since the tournament’s start.

The women’s team is getting ready for their multi-format tour of Australia, which begins on February 15, while the Men in Blue prepare to begin their campaign against the USA on Saturday.

A three-game Twenty20 International series will kick off the Women in Blue’s tour, which will also include numerous One-Day Internationals and a single Test.

US banking authorities are turning their attention to artificial intelligence. AI can boost markets, but there are hazards that need to be closely watched, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Congress.

Bessent was providing testimony on the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s 2025 annual report before the House Financial Services Committee.

AI is currently one of the top four priority for safeguarding the financial system, according to him. Cybersecurity, Treasury markets, and regulatory modernization are the other three.

Bessent stated that the council is giving the responsible application of AI top priority in order to improve financial stability.

Regulators are collaborating with both public and private partners, he said. Monitoring hazards and enhancing system resilience are the objectives.

According to Bessent, AI is rapidly gaining traction in financial markets and banks. Businesses use it for operations, compliance, and risk management. However, he cautioned that improperly comprehended or unmonitored use may exacerbate shocks under stressful situations.

According to him, the FSOC report shows a change in strategy. Broad warnings are becoming less common among regulators. Instead, they are concentrating on particular weaknesses that have the potential to cause systemic disruption.

“In order to focus on the issues that are most important for the financial stability of the United States, we are ignoring the noise,” Bessent stated.

Democratic members expressed concern over decisions made by AI. They cautioned that discrimination and bias could be introduced by opaque algorithms, particularly in credit and lending decisions. They claimed that previous financial crises had been exacerbated by similar blind spots.

Bessent recognized the dangers. The FSOC’s mandate, he argued, is limited. When asked about explainability in AI systems, he responded, “It could be a concern.” “However, we don’t think it’s important for financial stability.”

The administration’s strategy received broad support from Republican lawmakers. They argued that early regulation shouldn’t stifle innovation. They contended that AI can tighten compliance, enhance customer service, and aid in the detection of fraud.

Regulators are also keeping an eye on concentration hazards, according to Bessent. He claimed that an excessive dependence on a small number of AI suppliers or systems could increase the harm caused by technical malfunctions or hacks.

“Criminal organizations and nation-state actors continue to target our infrastructure and financial institutions,” he stated.

FSOC is coordinating with foreign peers, Bessent continued. He stated that in order to prevent regulatory loopholes, international cooperation is necessary to mitigate the global risks associated with AI.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 final between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi) is sure to be an exciting match with the highest stakes ever.

With major players like Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, and Richa Ghosh lighting up the stage and international flair from Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt, this final has a distinctive India-South Africa flavor.

This encounter has had a surprising build-up. After facing tremendous pressure to advance to the final, DC, who frequently scrap through must-win scenarios, makes their fourth effort at WPL gold.

However, thanks to crucial contributions from Grace Harris in Ellyse Perry’s absence, RCB’s strong run to the top—they finished first in the group with six wins in eight games—has allowed them to enter this final with confidence.

On the other hand, neither team’s path to the championship game could have been more unlike. With Arundhati Reddy back and leg-spinner Prema Rawat potentially joining, RCB is set to support Pooja Vastrakar as a specialist hitter, offering tactical depth.

Because of their reliable core, DC is unlikely to alter its winning lineup, staying with the 13 players they have utilized all season.

One of the highlights will be the first fight between Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee of DC and Lauren Bell of RCB. Bell’s struggle against DC’s power-hitting openers might set the tone. She has been a threat with the new ball.

Shafali and Lee’s fiery powerplay performances will be critical; DC’s success this season has been built on chasing big targets, with their opening duo crucial to setting the chase.

On the other hand, Mandhana’s leadership has been crucial to RCB’s success, and her reliability in the championship game might be the secret to their third victory.

In addition to securing another WPL championship, a win may strengthen Mandhana’s argument for a more important leadership position in Indian cricket.

While DC’s Nandni Sharma leads the Indian wicket-takers chart in the 2026 WPL with 16 wickets, Grace Harris is the player to watch for RCB as her strike rate of 181 is the highest among batters facing more than 50 balls.

With an economy rate of 8.27, RCB’s death bowling is the best in the league, while DC’s ranks second at 8.37. DC is unbeaten in games where Shafali and Lee have put on a 50+ partnership.

The Vadodara pitch is balanced and has a good amount of grass cover, which may help the spinners. Although dew is not anticipated to have as much of an impact as it did earlier in the season, conditions could change rapidly, so tactical choices are vital. In a final where every inch matters, both teams will try to take advantage of these subtleties.

The WPL 2026 final is sure to be spectacular, with everything on the line. Will DC emerge to win their first WPL title, or will RCB continue their winning run? Fans will undoubtedly be on the edge of their seats due to the excitement.

All eyes are now on the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, which starts on Wednesday and will include the crucial repo rate decision on Friday, following the Union Budget 2026 and the historic India-US trade agreement.

Economists predict that any additional policy rate cuts by the MPC, chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, will be halted. To address the risks associated with currency, bond stability, and liquidity, the Central Bank is instead planning to take direct action.

In February 2025, the RBI reduced the repo rate to 5.25%, a reduction of 125 basis points.

There is no justification to make more cutbacks, analysts added, since inflation is expected to rise even in the new base year series that will be released on February 12.

According to a Yes Bank note, “the current real rate of 125 bps seems reasonable with the current repo rate at 5.25 percent and with inflation anticipated at around 4 percent (will wait to see if the new series changes the inflation view).”

It further stated that in the event of a growth collapse, the RBI should remain on hold, maintain a “neutral” attitude, and maintain its firepower.

Bond purchases are anticipated to continue this quarter and in April and June of 2026.

Radhika Rao, Executive Director and Senior Economist at DBS Bank., stated that, “the central bank may want to be agile and nimble in its money market related operations and keep borrowing costs in check because the FY27 Budget outlines a record high of borrowings.”

In order to relieve liquidity pressure, the RBI recently announced a number of liquidity-enhancing initiatives that will inject over Rs 2 lakh crore into the banking sector. The Central Bank stated that in order to improve liquidity conditions in the financial sector, it will employ a combination of open market bond purchases, a foreign currency swap, and a variable rate repo operation.

The actions are being taken after a review of the financial and liquidity situation.

The India-US trade agreement was warmly hailed by international and Indian brokerages on Tuesday, who described it as a significant boost to India’s GDP, business profits, and foreign investment sentiment.

The stock markets mirrored the strong support from financial professionals, with the Sensex rising more than 4,200 points during intraday trading to reach a record high of 85,871.73.

According to brokers, lowering reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports to the US will improve economic prospects and lessen the strain on India’s external balances.

According to Goldman Sachs, the reduced tariffs could reduce India’s current account deficit by around 0.25 percent of GDP in 2026, bringing it down to almost 0.8 percent.

Additionally, the company anticipates that capital inflows would rebound after the acquisition is fully executed, which could bolster the rupee and lower negative risks to its dollar-rupee estimate.

According to Goldman Sachs, the Reserve Bank of India is probably nearing the end of its cycle of rate reductions and might maintain the repo rate at 5.25 percent through 2026.

It also mentioned that, in terms of export competitiveness, the trade agreement places India in a marginally better position than other Asian rising nations.

Even though corporate profits have been weak recently, Bernstein said it’s a good moment for investors to enter the market due to the positive attitude around India.

Nomura emphasized that foreign investment in India is expected to resume. After a poor FY26, it anticipates a gradual reversal of both foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments and foreign portfolio investor (FPI) flows.

In FY27, the brokerage anticipates a balance of payments surplus of about $7 billion. Additionally, it noted that labor-intensive export industries like manufacturing and textiles will have less margin pressure as a result of the tariffs being lowered to 18%.

India may increase technology imports and attract long-term US investments if it opens its markets to more US goods, according to BofA Securities.

It further stated that the impact of the new pricing structure will be minimal, despite some currency weakening.

According to their projections, India’s effective tariff rate might drop from approximately 30–35% to about 12–13% after current US duties on goods like steel, aluminum, and cars are taken into account.

Markets will now pay greater attention to the improving trend in corporate results, according to domestic brokerage Motilal Oswal.

The deal is very good for Indian stocks, according to Antique Stock Broking.

The anticipated return of foreign investors, which has been a significant worry for markets over the previous year, would be the main advantage, according to the statement.

Given this perspective, Antique has set a target for the Nifty 50 of 29,500 by March 2027, favoring equities in industries including capital goods, consumer goods, financials, and defense.

To the pleasure of fans and movie enthusiasts, the producers of Rajkumar Periasamy‘s widely anticipated upcoming film, which stars Dhanush in the main role, welcomed actress Sai Pallavi and Sree Leela on board the film’s unit on Monday.

Actor Dhanush’s production company, Wunderbar Films, welcomed actress Sai Pallavi to their X timeline. Wunderbar Films is one of the production companies doing the movie.

It stated, “She embodies both grace and strength simultaneously. Welcome to @Sai_Pallavi92, everyone’s favorite, on board #D55. The popular pair makes a comeback to the big screen.

This will be Sai Pallavi’s second collaboration with Dhanush. She previously collaborated with Dhanush in “Maari 2,” a film directed by Balaji Mohan.

Recall that on January 30 of this year, actress Sreeleela was welcomed onto the film’s unit by the film’s producers, who are now working under the tentative name #D55.

Sree Leela was welcomed to the unit by the production company, which said, “You didn’t see this coming.” Greetings from #D55 to the stunning damsel @sreeleela14.”

Sai Abhyankkar, a rising musical sensation, was also brought on board by the producers.

To announce the news, Wunderbar Films posted on their X timeline: “Time is up. It fractures the SAI-lence. To have the amazing @SaiAbhyankkar create the music for #D55 is an exciting development. D55: The Musical #SaiAbhyankkar. A brand-new partnership is being loaded.

“Super excited and pumped working with @dhanushkraja sir on #D55! My dream collaboration @Rajkumar_KP, dear sir thank you so much!” was Sai Abhyankkar‘s response to the production house’s post. Thank you so much, dear @theSreyas Anna. @wunderbarfilms @RTakeStudios GIG. This is going to be a really special cooking.

The youthful music sensation was also welcomed by director Rajkumar Periasamy to join the crew of the movie, which is currently being referred to as #D55.

He posted on his X timeline: “Sai, you are a Wonder-kid! I’m thrilled to have you, my brother, as the music composer for #D55. @SaiAbhyankkar, may God bless you. Thank you, sir @DhanushKRaja. #D55 A Musical by Sai Abhyankkar. Shra2309 @azy905 @sandy_sashr @vishurams @theSreyas @wunderbarfilms @RTakeStudios.”

The producers have already revealed that the movie will be a masterpiece, which has created a great deal of anticipation.

Recall that only one week prior, R Take Studios, a different production company, stated that it would be collaborating with Wunderbar Films to produce this movie.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday that “Made in India” goods would now be subject to a lower tariff of 18% following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that a trade agreement had been achieved between the two countries.

On X, Prime Minister Modi wrote that it was “wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today.”

“Happy to hear that the 18% tariff on ‘Made in India’ products will now be lowered.” The Prime Minister wrote on X: “The 1.4 billion Indians are very grateful to President Trump for this fantastic statement.

“When two major economies and the biggest democracies in the world collaborate, it benefits our people and opens up enormous possibilities for mutually beneficial cooperation. The peace, stability, and prosperity of the world depend on President Trump’s leadership. PM Modi added, “India fully supports his efforts for peace.”

He stated that he is eager to collaborate closely with Trump in order to “take our partnership to unprecedented heights.”

In a previous post on Truth Social, the US president claimed that the deal will instantly lower the reciprocal tariff between the United States and India from 25% to 18%.

He described it as a significant change in bilateral commercial relations that is connected to energy cooperation and more general geopolitical objectives.

The two leaders talked about “many things, including Trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine,” according to Trump.

According to him, Modi consented to raise purchases from the US and possibly Venezuela and to cease purchasing Russian oil.

“This will help put an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where thousands of people are dying every week!” Trump penned.

Trump said the trade agreement would go into force right away. “We will proceed to lower our tariffs and non-tariff barriers against the United States to zero,” he declared.

Additionally, Trump said that Modi made a much stronger commitment to “BUY AMERICAN.”

“Over $500 BILLION DOLLARS of U.S. Energy, Technology, Agricultural, Coal, and many other products” will be bought by India, he continued.

The tariff reset, according to analysts, may also aid in reducing wider geopolitical trade concerns, especially now that India has finalized a separate free trade agreement with the EU.

However, finalization of sector-specific promises and implementation specifics is still pending.

The support from the government for emerging technologies through initiatives like the AI mission, National Quantum Mission, Anusandhan National Research Fund, and Research and Innovation Fund is expected to significantly benefit Indian higher education institutions that are shaping the country’s future entrepreneurs, industry leaders stated on Monday.

The Union Budget 2026 indicates a clear transition in India’s approach to technology, moving from simple adoption to the development of strategic capabilities.

“The focus on AI, semiconductors, cloud computing, and data infrastructure shows a solid recognition that excelling in the digital economy begins with having strong foundational elements. Enhancing the India AI Mission offers a unified framework to speed up AI research, implementation, and the ethical management of AI across various sectors,” remarked CP Gurnani, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of AIONOS.

Crucially, this agenda goes beyond a limited technological focus. By integrating AI funding with skill development, workforce preparedness, and empowerment of MSMEs, the Budget acknowledges that growth, inclusivity, and competitiveness must advance in tandem, he stated.

The emphasis on incorporating technology across various sectors aims to support farmers directly, increase female participation in STEM fields, and provide youth with the skills needed to seize emerging opportunities, noted Chocko Valliappa, Vice Chairman of Sona College of Technology.

“The budget allocation of Rs 139,289 crore for the education sector is an increase of 14.2 percent compared to the revised estimate of Rs 121,949 crore for 2025-26. According to the revised estimate, the actual expenditure on education fell short by 5 percent relative to the budgeted figure,” he mentioned.

The budget proposal to establish five university townships near key industrial and logistics corridors, featuring a variety of universities, colleges, research institutions, and skill centers, is a positive initiative.

“States such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, which have a robust manufacturing sector and numerous higher education institutions, could easily host one of these university townships,” Valliappa commented.

As per industry experts, the Union Budget conveys a strong message that India’s upcoming growth phase will be driven by AI-focused digital capabilities, extensive skill development, and competitive technology services on a global scale.

“The suggested Education to Employment and Enterprise framework is a timely initiative aimed at closing the gap between curriculum and industry, especially in emerging fields like AI, data engineering, and digital platforms, where the demand for skilled professionals is exceeding the availability of prepared talent,” stated Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Services.

The emphasis on tier 2 and tier 3 areas as Digital Economy Zones enhances India’s Global Capability Center ecosystem by tapping into new talent sources and fostering distributed, resilient operating models outside of metropolitan areas, Alug highlighted.

The creation of a unified IT Services framework with more defined tax regulations and safe harbour guidelines is also crucial, as it offers businesses long-term certainty, experts expressed.

Challa Sreenivasulu Setty stated that, Chairman of the State Bank of India, the Budget for 2026–2027 is a major step toward turning India into a global center for innovation and sophisticated manufacturing with global competitiveness as the cornerstone.

The budget attempts to strike a delicate balance between the rural and urban, legacy and sunrise industries while maintaining policy continuity and tax predictability.The budget for this year includes both futuristic and predictable components.

The predictable portion is the basic framework which remains focused on emerging and employment creating sectors.

“With an increase in proposed investments, the infrastructure sector continues to be an anchor,” he stated in the “Union Budget 2026-27 Analysis Report” published by State Bank of India.

The banking industry has a lot of advantages and prospects. Reinventing banking in quickly changing context and maintaining financial markets orderly and stable, thereby aligning with India’s next phase of growth continues to be crucial for the sector, Setty added.

Announcements on semiconductors, data centers, carbon capture utilization and storage, critical minerals, and other areas are part of the futurist push on sunrise industries.

“Starting with basic fiscal math, the budgetary allocations are based on the assumption of nominal GDP growth of 10 per cent which appears prudent given the way inflation is panning out.

According to him, this results in a budget imbalance of 4.3 percent of GDP.

The Budget has made some significant changes in the areas of agriculture and rural areas.

“The focus will now be on high value products such as sandalwood, cashews, fisheries though Integrated development of 500 reservoirs, coconut promotion scheme to increase production, rejuvenating old, low-yielding orchards and expand high-density cultivation of walnuts, almonds and pine nuts,” said the SBI Chairman.

There is additional attention on growing the use of AI in agriculture by integrating Agri Stack portals.

A focus on services, especially tourism, the orange economy, and education, is appropriate and complementary to the planned infrastructure expansion, connectivity, and future growth driven by digital capital expenditures.

As a key component of Viksit Bharat, the services sector will be the focus of the High-Powered “Education to Employment and Enterprise” Standing Committee.

The enormous scope of specialized building necessitates a local infrastructure equipment supply chain. In light of this, the budget suggests producing high-value, cutting-edge infrastructure and construction equipment domestically.

Setty stated, “On the financing side, an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund will be established to provide prudently calibrated partial credit guarantees to lenders in order to further strengthen the confidence of private developers.”

The Budget has attempted to leverage the potential of urban agglomerations in recognition of India’s fast urbanization. In order to do this, city economic regions (CER) would be mapped according to their unique growth drivers, and each CER will get a five-year allocation of Rs 5,000 crore for the implementation of development plans.

According to Setty, the Budget has suggested expanding the present Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in the sunrise industries by proposing India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 to manufacture materials and equipment, create full-stack Indian intellectual property, and strengthen supply chains.

Keeping in mind the disruption in vital minerals, the existing National vital Mineral Mission will be complimented by a dedicated Rare Earth Corridors to be constructed and exemption from BCD for capital goods import.

The people oriented efforts, ease of doing business and living metrics which create the softer side of the tough decisions highlights the challenges that country faces, he observed.