New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 on Feb. 1, delivering a tax agenda that maintains existing personal income tax rates and slabs while spotlighting reform of the underlying law rather than relief via rate cuts.

Under both tax regimes (new and old), the basic structure remains:

New Regime (unchanged):

Rs.0 - Rs.4 L: Nil

Rs.4 - Rs.8 L: 5%

Rs.8 - Rs.12 L: 10%

Rs.12 - Rs.16 L: 15%

Rs.16 - Rs.20 L: 20%

Rs.20 - Rs.24 L: 25%

Above Rs.24 L: 30%

Old Regime (unchanged):

Up to Rs.2.5 L: Nil

Rs.2.5 - Rs.5 L: 5%

Rs.5 - Rs.10 L: 20%

Above Rs.10 L: 30%

This continuity signals that rate relief for individuals, especially the salaried and middle class, is not the budgetary priority t...