Level-playing field: Warning against Delhi-specific Union Budget measures that could affect electoral fairness during polls.
The Election Commission will inform the cabinet secretary that no Delhi-specific provision in the Union Budget may be made if it would disturb the level-playing field during the Delhi Assembly polls; the Commission also announced polling and related nomination and withdrawal schedules and concurrent bypolls.

Budget consultation process expands stakeholder and public inputs, inviting citizen suggestions for upcoming national budget formulation.
Pre-Budget consultations for the Union Budget 2025-26 concluded after month-long meetings chaired by the Union Finance Minister, convening over 100 invitees across nine stakeholder groups and senior finance officials to present sectoral suggestions for budget planning; participants' recommendations will be examined in preparing the Budget, and citizens are invited to submit suggestions via the MyGov platform beginning 10 January 2025.

Public consultation invites citizen suggestions for the Union Budget via MyGov to inform final budget proposals.
Public consultations for the Union Budget 2025-26 concluded after month-long stakeholder meetings across nine groups whose suggestions will be examined by senior Finance Ministry officials in preparing budget proposals. Citizens may submit suggestions on the MyGov platform from January 10 for consideration in the Budget; this inclusionary mechanism aims to collect innovative inputs to inform policy choices and fiscal priorities prior to tabling.

Private sector investment reluctance signals policy confidence issues; budget must prioritise measures to revive domestic investment.
The piece frames private-sector reluctance to invest as a vote of no-confidence in current economic policy, attributing it to falling Domestic Investment, stagnating FDI, weak mass consumption, perceived market concentration, and intimidating regulatory conduct; it urges the upcoming Union budget to prioritise measures that stimulate and sustain domestic investment to restore business confidence.