As global trade tensions reshape the economic landscape, Monika unpacks what India’s recent wave of trade agreements really means. Triggered in part by sharp tariff actions and the growing use of trade as a geopolitical weapon, India has moved quickly to diversify its export markets and reduce dependence on any single partner. This episode explains, in simple terms, how tariffs, free trade agreements, and shifting supply chains affect growth, jobs, and markets — and why these deals matter far beyond headline diplomacy.

Monika walks through the major agreements signed with the UK, EU, EFTA nations, Oman, New Zealand, and the United States, and explains how they could boost exports, attract investment, and create jobs in sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, technology, and services. She also discusses the broader macro impact — from strengthening India’s negotiating position globally to supporting long-term GDP growth and market sentiment — while reminding investors that short-term market reactions often miss the bigger structural story.

In listener questions, Avinash Mundhra asks about moving beyond basic index investing into strategy-based indices and whether ULIPs linked to such indices make sense; Venkatesh Kumaran from Spain seeks guidance on balancing loan repayment with saving for future goals and on investing in Indian mutual funds as an NRI planning to return; and Gaurav Madan writes about whether model-driven advisory approaches to mutual fund selection are superior to simple, transparent investing methods.

Chapters:

(00:00 – 00:00) Why India Is Signing Trade Deals After the Tariff Shock

(00:00 – 00:00) How New FTAs Could Boost Exports, Jobs and GDP

(00:00 – 00:00) Mid- and Small-Cap Index Funds, Multicap Funds and the ULIP Debate

(00:00 – 00:00) Paying Off Loans vs Investing and NRI Mutual Fund Considerations

(00:00 – 00:00) Choosing Equity Mutual Funds and the Risks of Model-Based Advisory

If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠

Monika’s book on basic money management

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Monika’s book on mutual funds

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Calculators

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.

Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠

As Budget 2026 unfolds, Monika frames it as a continuation budget - a work-in-progress focused less on headline reforms and more on keeping the economic machinery running smoothly. With pressure on the fiscal deficit after last year’s tax relief and GST cuts, the big concern was whether the numbers would hold. Despite weak nominal growth and a low GDP deflator, higher corporate taxes, indirect taxes, and dividends have helped contain the fiscal deficit at 4.4%, with only a marginal dip projected next year. For markets, this signals fiscal discipline at a time of global uncertainty.

Monika breaks down the key priorities shaping this budget - a sharp rise in defence spending, sustained capital expenditure, and a clear push to align India with strategic technologies such as semiconductors, rare earths, cloud infrastructure, and domestic IP creation. Running through the speech is a stated intent to simplify rules, ease compliance, and reduce friction between the state, businesses, and citizens, even as execution risks remain. On the personal finance front, there are no fresh income-tax changes, relief comes via lower TCS on overseas spending, and clarity emerges on sovereign gold bond taxation, while higher STT on derivatives sends a strong signal against excessive speculation.

In listener questions, the focus turns to what this budget really means for everyday investors - how changes to SGB taxation affect gold allocations, why the STT hike matters mainly for F&O traders and not long-term investors, and why market reactions immediately after the budget may not reflect India’s underlying growth story. The takeaway remains consistent: budgets will come and go, markets will react and recover, but maintaining the right asset allocation matters far more than chasing short-term noise.

Chapters:

(00:00 – 00:00) Budget 2026 as a Work-in-Progress Framework

(00:00 – 00:00) Fiscal Deficit, Defence Spending and Growth Priorities

(00:00 – 00:00) Sovereign Gold Bonds and Capital Gains Tax Changes

(00:00 – 00:00) TCS Relief and Easier Property Transactions

(00:00 – 00:00) STT Hike, Market Reaction and What Investors Should Do

If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠

Monika’s book on basic money management

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Monika’s book on mutual funds

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Calculators

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.

Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠

Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠