India, Feb. 4 -- The trade deal between India and the US will act as a big relief to exporters and allow the China+1 strategy to fully play out, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday, adding that the Union Budget 2026-27 has set the roadmap for Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

In an interview, the minister - who presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget on Sunday - also spoke about the importance of stability in political and financial policymaking, confirmed that the reform momentum will continue, underlined that the government was invested in improving implementation, and argued that the common man benefited directly and indirectly from the budget.

"It is a reduction in tariffs, specifically, down to 18%, which ...