New Delhi/Guwahati, January 25, 2026 — As the nation enters the final week before the Union Budget, a mix of economic anxiety and sporting excitement defines the mood on this Sunday. While investors are licking their wounds after a volatile week on Dalal Street, cricket fans in the Northeast are gearing up for a high-octane clash tonight.

Budget 2026: The "Make or Break" for the Middle Class

With the traditional Halwa Ceremony likely concluding the budget printing process, speculation is rife that Finance Ministry officials are working on a "populist yet prudent" roadmap.

• Tax Relief Hopes: Sources suggest the Finance Minister may announce a hike in the Standard Deduction to ₹75,000 to soothe the salaried class, following the recent market volatility.
• Market Watch: The Sensex and Nifty saw a sharp correction yesterday (Saturday special trading), wiping out nearly ₹3 Lakh Crore in investor wealth. Analysts attribute this to pre-budget nervousness and global cues. All eyes are now on Feb 1 for measures to boost consumption.

Super Sunday: India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I

The focus shifts to the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati tonight, where the Men in Blue face New Zealand in the 3rd T20 International.

• The Stakes: With the series currently poised delicately, tonight's match (starting 7:00 PM IST) is a virtual decider.
• Player to Watch: Young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been in blistering form, is expected to open the innings. The local administration has declared a "traffic alert" in Guwahati as thousands flock to the stadium.

ISRO: "Gaganyaan Unaffected" by Recent Setback

In a reassuring update for science enthusiasts, ISRO officials today clarified that the upcoming Gaganyaan (human spaceflight) mission remains completely on track, despite the minor anomaly reported in the recent PSLV-C62 launch earlier this month.

• "The systems for Gaganyaan are distinct and have undergone rigorous triple-redundancy checks. We are go for launch later this year," a senior ISRO official stated at a press briefing this morning.