New Delhi, Feb 1 (.) From the taxes Indians pay and the borrowings the government raises, to the money spent on states, defence, welfare and interest payments, every paisa reveals where the government’s priorities lie.
As India pushes towards its Viksit Bharat goal amid global uncertainty, how that one rupee comes in and where it finally goes will shape the country’s economic direction in the year ahead.
The government takes one rupee from citizens, pools it with millions of others, and deploys it with intent into highways, railways, defence equipment, classrooms, hospitals and digital infrastructure.
That rupee is split between paying interest to maintain fiscal credibility, funding welfare to protect the vulnerable, and investing in capital expenditure to fuel future growth and jobs.
The union Budget is essentially the script that shows where this rupee goes and what return the government expects from it.
In Budget 2025, for every rupee earned by the government, 66 paise was estimated to come from direct and indirect taxes the remaining portion came from borrowings, non-tax revenue and capital receipts.
Further, 39 paise came from direct taxes, including 22 paise from personal income tax, and 17 paise from corporate tax.
Among indirect taxes, GST contributed 18 paise, making it the largest source, excise duty added 5 paise, while customs duty contributed 4 paise, borrowings and other liabilities provided 24 paise, non-tax revenue, including disinvestment proceeds, added 9 paise, and non-debt capital receipts made up 1 paise.
In Budget 2026, the government expects every rupee to be sourced as follows: 24 paise from borrowings and other liabilities, 21 paise from income tax, 18 paise from corporate tax, 15 paise from GST and other taxes, 10 paise from non-tax revenue, 6 paise from union excise duties, 4 paise from customs duties, and 2 paise from net debt capital receipts.
While taxes remain critical, borrowing continues to play a central role in financing government expenditure as India prioritises growth and infrastructure investment.
On the expenditure side, Budget 2025 showed a strong emphasis on transfers, interest payments and development schemes.
Out of every rupee spent, 22 paise went to states as their share of taxes and duties, 20 paise was earmarked for interest payments, 17 paise was allocated to central sector schemes, 8 paise went to centrally sponsored schemes, 11 paise was set aside for defence, 7 paise each for Finance Commission transfers and other expenditures, 6 paise for major subsidies, and 2 paise for civil pensions.
A similar pattern existed in earlier budgets as well, underlining the structural nature of these commitments especially interest payments and transfers to states, which together consume more than 40 paise of every rupee spent.
Budgets often overwhelm with trillion-rupee figures, but the real story lies in the smallest unit.
Following the journey of one rupee strips away complexity and reveals the government’s choices on taxation, borrowing, welfare and growth.
As India navigates global uncertainty while chasing big economic ambitions, Budget 2026 will be judged not just by how much money is raised or spent but by how decisively and efficiently that one rupee is put to work.
. VK SAS PRS