Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on February 1, 2026, the extension of basic customs duty exemption on capital goods used for making lithium-ion cells for battery storage in the new financial year. Speaking in her Budget speech, she said, "I propose to extend the basic customs duty exemption given to capital goods used for manufacturing lithium-ion cells for batteries." She also proposed duty exemption on imports of sodium anti Monet for solar glass manufacturing. The Budget aims to support processing of critical minerals by exempting customs duty on related capital goods. For cleaner energy, Sitharaman said, "I propose to exclude the entire value of biogas while calculating the central excise duty payable on biogas blended CNG." On infrastructure, the government plans to set up an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a key node at Durgapur. The Budget further focuses on the Poorvodaya states and Northeast, highlighting the creation of five tourist spots, 4,000 new e-buses, and promotion of Buddhist sites. Sitharaman also mentioned the removal of customs duty exemptions on items already made in India or those with very low imports. This move aims to boost local manufacturing.