India raises duty-free allowance to ₹75,000 under new Baggage Rules 2026
Budget 2026 halves TCS on overseas tours, doubles NRI equity limit to 10 percent
Persistent glitches on India’s e-Visa portal spark government server upgrade plan
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Air India Express slashes Gulf-India fares to under AED 320 in year-long ‘Xpress More’ sale
Air India Express is offering sub-AED 350 (≈ ₹7,900) tickets on UAE–India routes until 5 February, valid for travel through end-2026. The sale, covering five million seats, could cut mobility costs for companies moving staff between the Gulf and India, but buyers should watch baggage fees and blackout dates.
Canada trims visitor-visa processing for Indians to 83 days amid staffing surge
IRCC has cut visitor-visa processing for Indians to 83 days, helped by extra staff and AI triage. The quicker timeline benefits business travellers and visiting relatives, though biometrics appointments remain a pinch point.
India hikes duty-free baggage allowance to ₹75,000 under new Baggage Rules 2026
Effective 2 February 2026, India has raised the duty-free allowance for returning residents and tourists of Indian origin to ₹75,000 and for foreign tourists to ₹25,000, replacing the 2016 regime. The higher limits reduce red tape at customs and make it easier for business and leisure travellers to bring personal goods into India.
Budget 2026 slashes Tax Collected at Source on overseas tour packages and remittances
The Union Budget cut TCS on overseas tour packages, foreign education and medical remittances to a uniform 2 per cent from the previous 5–20 per cent structure, easing cash-flow burdens for tourists, students and companies moving employees abroad.
Direct equity access for NRIs and foreign nationals via RBI’s Portfolio Investment Scheme
Budget 2026 creates a direct path for NRIs and other overseas individuals to buy Indian equities, doubling the personal holding limit to 10 per cent and expanding the overall cap to 24 per cent, a move that simplifies compensation planning for expatriates and could channel billions into Indian markets.
Property purchases from NRIs simplified—TAN requirement scrapped from 1 October
Budget 2026 removes the need for resident buyers to obtain a TAN when purchasing property from NRIs; from 1 October, TDS can be paid using the buyer’s PAN, reducing compliance costs and speeding up transactions.
Over 800 NEET-PG aspirants switch to NRI quota as courts widen definition
The MCC has allowed 811 postgraduate medical candidates to shift to the high-fee NRI quota for the 2025-26 counselling round after courts broadened the definition of ‘ward of an NRI’, highlighting how Indian families leverage diaspora links to secure scarce professional seats.
Odisha extends subsidy to keep Bhubaneswar–Dubai & Singapore flights alive
Odisha has earmarked nearly ₹27 crore to subsidise IndiGo’s Bhubaneswar–Dubai and Bhubaneswar–Singapore services through March 2026, safeguarding vital international links for migrant workers and trade while the routes mature.