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Jan 30, 2026
Shalini Venuturupalli

The Versatile Voice of India Retires

“Some voices don’t just sing songs – they carry people through their silences” On the 28th of January 2026, the favourite singer of millions, Arijit Singh announced his retirement from playback singing. It came as a deep shock and disappointment for all his fans and the music world. The news came via a heartfelt social media message in which he confirmed that he will no longer take on new assignments, recording songs for movies. “Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you for all the love you’ve given me over the years. I am happy to announce that I am not going to be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey.” This message, expressing gratitude and respect for his fans, marked what many are calling the end of an era in Bollywood music. When news of Arijit Singh stepping away from playback singing began circulating, it felt less like an announcement and more like a collective pause. For over a decade, his voice had become a companion to heartbreaks, healing, late-night introspections, and unspoken emotions. Yet, to understand the weight of this moment, one must look beyond the chartbusters — into the life that shaped the voice. Arijit’s journey was never an overnight success. Born in a modest Bengali family steeped in music, he was trained early in classical music, first by his grandmother and then by disciplined gurus. Talent was evident – but opportunity was not guaranteed. His first taste of national recognition came as a contestant on Fame Gurukul in 2005. He did not win it, nor did he exit with any fanfares or contracts. Many thought it to be his end. But, for him, it was a lesson in patience. He again started from the basics and worked like a music programmer, arranging tracks for composers like Pritam, quietly learning the architecture of film music. This period, often overlooked, was crucial. It taught him humility, technical precision, and respect for the collaborative nature of art. After years of honing his craft, he made his playback singing debut in 2011 and rose to fame with the immensely popular song “Tum Hi Ho” from Aashiqui 2 (2013). When the song initially came to him, it was not guaranteed. There were multiple recordings, and it was scrutinised endlessly. Arijit spoke about the pressure of knowing this could be his last chance. Tum Hi Ho didn’t become a cultural phenomenon only due to his voice, but it was emotional restraint and the experience of being unheard for years. This song redefined Bollywood’s emotional soundscape. Over the following decade, he became one of the most popular voices in Bollywood, delivering many chart-toppers such as Channa Mereya, Kesariya, Kashmir Main Tu Kanya Kumari, Lutt Putt Gaya, Gerua and so many more. His expressive yet understated singing style defined the sound of a generation’s romantic and emotional music. He also recorded songs in multiple Indian languages and worked with many top composers and actors, earning numerous awards, including multiple Filmfare awards and a Padma Shri in 2025 for his contributions to music. Behind all the acclaim, Arijit’s life has been marked by personal loss, including that of his close family members. Those experiences deepened his relationship with music as a form of emotional survival rather than just performance. Arijit always chose a very austere and grounded life contradictory to a life of extravagant displays. He continued to live close to his roots, travelling without an entourage and speaking sparingly. Beyond music, he involves himself in social work, running initiatives in rural Bengal that support education and healthcare. What makes Arijit unique is his refusal to dilute his voice. He avoided being formulaic in an industry that often favours repetition. He sang less when overexposed, declined projects when creatively unconvinced, and remained unapologetically introspective in an extroverted industry. This is perhaps why his decision to step away from playback singing feels consistent with who he has always been — someone who prioritises creative integrity over permanence. One can learn numerous valuable lessons from Arijit’s life – that rejection is not failure; it is like training to become better. Silence, discipline and humility can co-exist with greatness, and success requires sincerity, not show off. Arijit’s decision has definitely left the fans with sadness, but it is not a loss. It is a journey filled with dignity. His songs shall continue to breathe in headphones, at weddings and in heartbreaks. Listening to his songs always resolves into a wonderful, feel-good experience. Some voices do fade in microphones, but his won’t because it was never about the microphone. Arijit Singh’s voice helped define a generation of Bollywood music lovers. Songs like Tum Hi Ho became not just hits but cultural landmarks — shaping how emotional expression, love, loss, and joy were voiced in Indian cinema. His retirement from playback singing symbolises not just a personal career shift, but a turning point for the industry itself. Whether he returns to playback singing later or continues his evolution in independent and classical music, his legacy as one of India’s most beloved and influential vocalists is firmly established.

Jan 30, 2026
Dhiresh Kulshrestha

Pre-Budget Expectations: India May Move Towards Household Income Taxation

Based on current trends, the Government may introduce joint taxation for married couples as part of the Union Budget 2026 - 2027. This would be a major change to India's current personal income tax structure and would have significant implications on households' tax liability and with respect to income distribution in India. As it currently stands, India operates under an individual tax system and therefore: - Each spouse currently files their own tax return - Each spouse has their own PAN number, tax slab, tax deductions and exemptions - Existence of a marriage does not add a tax advantage to either spouse - If one spouse is a non-earner, the unused basic exemption that could be claimed by the non-earner will be wasted. This individual tax structure generally creates a higher effective tax burden on families, particularly if they have a one-source-of-income (single-income) family. What would Joint Filing Change? The potential benefits of a joint filing structure for married couples include: - The ability to bring together all sources of income for a household and file a joint tax return. - An increase in the slab efficiency through the use of the clubbed income will reduce the marginal rate of tax that is payable on a couple - Improved use of tax deductions (e.g. tax deductions available under the income tax provisions for home loan interest, Section 80C, Section 80D). - An increase in the basic exemption for all households. - Potentially allowing for each spouse to claim a standard deduction regardless of whether they are married or single. Impact Snapshot is a way of illustrating how there will be changes in tax systems based on a new joint taxation method as compared to the current individual taxpayer system. The following illustrates some of the differences. Parameterised Example for Comparison of Current vs. Proposed Tax Systems Tax Unit Individual Household Basic Exemption ₹2.5–3 lakh/person Combined Threshold (i.e., bigger than the current system) Slab Utilisation Not always the most efficient way More efficient/optimised Surcharge Trigger ₹50 Lakh May increase to ₹75 Lakh or more. Middle-Class Relief Very limited Very significant Global Taxation Systems as Precedent for Joint Tax Systems Country Structure/Tax Methodology U.S. Married couples can elect to file jointly and have both incomes considered when determining taxes. Germany has an income splitting option (Ehegatten splitting) when determining taxes. France Uses family quotient when determining taxes (i.e. one tax unit can have more than one part). India (Proposed) Moving from being treated as two individuals to a single-family unit, as measured economically. Visualising the Change from the Current System to the New Proposed System Current Husband/Wife Taxation System Husband's Income Individually Taxed Wife's Income Individually Taxed ↓ Total Combined Taxed Income at a Higher Level of Taxation Proposed Joint Taxation System Combined Household Income ↓ Combined Optimised Tax Rate Slabs based on combined income ↓ Reduced Effective Tax Rate Based on Household Income Who Gains the Most? Households • Single-income families • Upper middle-class families • Families close to the surtax threshold • Investing in housing, healthcare and insurance If the surtax threshold were increased from ₹50 lakh to ₹75 lakh or more, then the relief would be significant rather than just cosmetic. What is the importance of the Budget 2026 Budget 2026-27 is due to be presented on the 1st of February 2026. If the reform is approved, it would be A fundamental restructuring of the way we do taxation, rather than just increasing or decreasing taxes Moving away from taxing the individual to creating a more family-focused, fairer treatment in tax Accepting that households are the real decision-making units of the economy This reform will be transformative in terms of restructuring India’s current tax framework, rather than simply providing some short-term relief to middle-income households. It should also provide immediate relief, increase disposable incomes and increase the rate of economic activity. Ultimately, this increase in demand from consumers for essential and discretionary products may become the catalyst for an expanded overall market. These types of structural changes over time should shape India's transformation from an emerging market into a fully developed economy on the world stage. References Government of India. (2024). Income-tax Act, 1961 (as amended). Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue. Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (2024). Union Budget 2024–25: Budget documents and explanatory memorandum. Government of India. Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (2023). Report of the tax reforms committee and personal income tax simplification notes. Government of India. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2021). The taxation of families and households. OECD Publishing Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2022). Taxing wages 2022–23: Special features of household taxation. OECD Publishing Internal Revenue Service. (2023). Filing status—Married filing jointly. U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Ministry of Finance. (2022). Income splitting for married couples (Ehegattensplitting). Government of Germany Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. (2022). The family quotient system in personal income taxation. Government of France. International Monetary Fund. (2023). Fiscal monitor: Equity and efficiency in tax policy. IMF. Reserve Bank of India. (2023). State of the economy report. RBI.