Middle class not disappointed, huge tax exemption was given last year: Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said middle class is not disappointed after the announcement of Budget 2026 as "last year such a large-scale income tax exemption was given". "The middle class will be happy because there is a focus on strengthening manufacturing," he stated. Notably, Budget 2025 made annual incomes up to ₹12 lakh completely tax-free under the new regime.