Middle class under pressure: Raghav Chadha criticizes Union Budget 2026 for no income tax relief, stagnant salaries, and rising living costs. Learn about his recommendations for salaried citizens.

The middle class continues to feel the squeeze as rising costs and stagnant tax relief create financial pressure. Addressing the Union Budget 2026, Raghav Chadha highlighted that the Budget failed to offer meaningful support to salaried individuals struggling under inflation and rising living expenses.

“The middle class is being sandwiched between the rich and the poor,” Chadha said, pointing out that while household expenses for education, healthcare, rent, food, and transport have steadily climbed, the Budget offered little relief. Inflation has pushed education costs up by 8%, healthcare by 9%, rent by 7%, food by 6%, and transport by 5%.

The middle class is being sandwiched between the rich class and the poor class.

The middle class is caught between rising costs and rising taxes.

For the middle class, this Budget had one message. Carry on as you were.

In Parliament, I pointed out that there was no revision in… pic.twitter.com/ANQXFlF0Fd

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) February 11, 2026

Speaking in Parliament, Chadha emphasized the urgent need to revise income tax slabs and increase the standard deduction. Currently set at ₹75,000, he recommended raising it to ₹1.5 lakh to offset stagnant salaries and rising living costs for the salaried class.

also read:- Why Is India’s Healthcare Spending So Low? Raghav Chadha Pushes for ‘One Nation, One Medical Treatment’

“Despite the pressures on middle-income households, the Union Budget sent a clear message: carry on as you were,” Chadha remarked. He added that for the first time in years, personal income tax collections have surpassed corporate tax revenues, with individuals contributing around ₹11 lakh crore compared to ₹9.8 lakh crore from corporations.

Chadha stressed the need for targeted measures, either through tax relief or investment incentives, to help the middle class save more and build wealth. Without such steps, the financial burden on salaried families is likely to grow, undermining their ability to meet daily expenses and long-term financial goals.

This analysis underscores the growing economic strain on India’s middle class and the pressing need for policy reforms to ensure equitable growth and support for salaried citizens.