THE HINDU DATED 03TH FABRUARY 2026

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials-93

THE HINDU DATED 03TH FABRUARY 2026.

1. Capex scale-up: the core of Budget 2026

Budget 2026 ramps up the Centre’s capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore, higher than last year’s revised figure and well above pre-pandemic levels. The government’s reasoning is that large public investment in roads, rail, metro, logistics, green energy and digital infrastructure will crowd in private capex, raise productivity and create durable jobs. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman frames growth on three pillars: higher productivity, a skilled and employable youth population, and much deeper integration with global markets. The fiscal-deficit path is aligned to a new debt–GDP anchor, with gradual consolidation rather than sharp cuts. Critics worry that without a clear revival in private investment and consumption, public spending alone cannot deliver enough employment. The paper’s overall stance is analytical: this is not a “g