When Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 and the middle class tried to understand it, their reactions started appearing in the form of memes. (Image X @ANI)
New Delhi: Since 2016, the country's budget has been presented on February 1 every year. This year, just like in the past 10 years, when Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 and the middle class tried to understand it, their reactions started appearing in the form of memes. This happens every year; as soon as the Finance Minister presents the budget, social media users spring into action.
If the budget is good, hundreds of memes praising the Finance Minister are created, and if, God forbid, people don't understand the budget, then the Finance Minister is bombarded with memes. Something similar happened this time as well; the middle class didn't quite understand the budget, so they started making memes. In particular, the 40% tax on cigarettes has caused a wave of despair among smokers.
Middle class : Union #Budget2026 me hume kuch accha milega ??
— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) February 1, 2026
Nirmala Sitaraman be like: pic.twitter.com/YIvBSzJL1a
The memer @sarcastic_us used a dialogue from Sunil Grover's 'doctor' character to depict Nirmala Sitharaman's response to the middle class, which goes something like this!
40% GST on Tobacco products
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 1, 2026
Smokers: pic.twitter.com/eSJYI6VHPy
This meme shows that the government has imposed a 40 percent tax on tobacco products in its new 2026 budget. As a result, cigarette smokers are crying. However, NBT has a piece of advice for smokers: smoking is deadly and can cause serious diseases like cancer. Therefore, quit smoking as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greatly appreciated the Union Budget 2026-27. He described this budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha as very big and far-reaching. PM Modi said that this budget is a strong beginning to turn the dream of developed India into reality. He considered the Finance Minister's presentation of the budget for the ninth consecutive time as the biggest pride in the history of Parliament.
Modi described the budget as a mirror of the hopes and aspirations of 140 crore Indians. He said that this budget is not just a game of numbers but a roadmap to improve the lives of the people.
Tobacco products including cigarettes, pan masala, gutkha will attract 40% GST #Budget2026 🚨
— NITESH (@Nitesh805181) February 1, 2026
me to my smoker friends : pic.twitter.com/srKzk3lAmG
He said that this budget takes women's empowerment forward very strongly. The matter of reforms in the budget is very clear. This shows the way forward not by populist means but by doing real work. The balance of controlling inflation and keeping fiscal deficit low has been maintained. The PM said that now the MSME sector will get full strength to take it from local to global level. The emphasis given in the budget on capital expenditure and infrastructure is a huge step towards making India the third largest economy.
Every year budget scenes with Nimo tai#Budget2026 pic.twitter.com/XK5cOWox0p
— SwatKat💃 (@swatic12) February 1, 2026
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, posted on the social media platform 'X', "No jobs for the youth, manufacturing is declining, investors are withdrawing capital, domestic savings are falling, farmers are in distress, impending global shocks – all ignored." He claimed that this is a budget that ignores the real crises instead of addressing them.
#NirmalaSitharaman today breakfast before budget #Budget2026 pic.twitter.com/uIRCep1Wyc
— Neha Singhal Trader (@nsinghal211) February 1, 2026
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget for the financial year 2026-27 on Sunday. She announced that the capital expenditure target will be increased to ₹12.2 lakh crore, up from ₹11.2 lakh crore for the current financial year. She also announced several measures to boost infrastructure in the country.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday outlined three 'duties' that will not only accelerate the economy but also empower the poor, underprivileged, and backward sections of society. Sitharaman said that to fulfill the government's 'resolve' and considering that this is the first budget prepared in the new Parliament building, they are guided by three duties. Nirmala Sitharaman is the first woman Finance Minister of the country to present the budget in Parliament for the ninth consecutive time. The budget is expected to focus heavily on capital expenditure, especially in sectors considered strategically important due to current geopolitical compulsions.
Nirmala Sitharaman walking into the parliament today. #Budget2026 pic.twitter.com/4tbVKbxuKn
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 1, 2026
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday slammed the BJP-led central government and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the Union Budget 2026. Mamata Banerjee, the budget, which was announced by the Union Finance Minister om Sunday, will destroy the economic structure of the country.
"It's a 'Humpty-Dumpty Budget', just jugglery of words, it's anti-women, anti-farmer, anti-education. Centre wants to destroy the economic structure of the country," West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee told the media.
Me after hearing about the increase in cigarette prices....#Budget2026 pic.twitter.com/UlsvcOU1f0
— H I T E S H _❤️🔥_BAWA (@Isdilkakyakru) February 1, 2026
The main opposition party, Congress, targeted the Modi government, claiming that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget speech also lacked transparency as it did not provide information on budgetary allocations for major programs and schemes.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on social media platform 'X' that while a full reading of the (budget-related) documents is still pending, it is clear after 90 minutes (of the speech) that the budget completely failed to meet expectations. It was utterly lackluster and disappointing.
He claimed that the speech was also not transparent, as it did not provide any information about budgetary allocations for major programs and schemes. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said that this budget is not for the common people, but for big corporations.
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