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Union Budget 2026: The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in Budget 2026-27, focuses on accelerated growth in strategic sectors, overall development and readiness to adopt future technologies. The total expenditure on public capital is Rs. 12.2 lakh crore, which represents a holistic vision of the government in the areas of manufacturing, SMEs, infrastructure, energy, city economic regions, agriculture and creative industries. Budget 2026 is based on three key responsibilities to drive economic growth, to build capacity and to foster inclusive development.
What is the Biopharma SHAKTI
- Rs. 10,000 crore allocated over five years to position India as a global Biopharma hub.
- Creation of 3 new NIPERs and upgrades to 7 existing ones.
- Network of 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites.
- Strengthening research, manufacturing and skill development for healthcare innovation.
Electronics Components Scheme
- Outlay increased to Rs. 40,000 crore.
- Focus on semiconductor manufacturing, Indian IP development and domestic supply chain resilience.
- Industry-led research centers and skill training to produce future-ready workforce.
Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Scheme
- Strengthening Khadi, handloom and handicrafts clusters.
- Capital support for technology upgradation, skilling, quality testing and global market linkage.
- Integrated program to boost rural employment and promote traditional industries.
Creating “Champion SMEs”
- Rs. 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund for high-potential enterprises.
- Rs. 2,000 crore added to Self-Reliant India Fund for micro enterprise risk capital.
- Corporate Mitras program in Tier-II and Tier-III towns for compliance, training and advisory support.
Rejuvenating Legacy Industrial Sectors
- Revival of 200 legacy industrial clusters via infrastructure and technology upgrades.
- Focus on improving cost competitiveness, efficiency and export readiness.
Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme
- Shift cargo movement from road and rail to inland waterways and coastal shipping (6% → 12% by 2047).
- New freight corridors, 20 National Waterways, seaplane infrastructure and ship repair ecosystems.
- Incentives for sustainable logistics and regional connectivity.
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS)
- Rs. 20,000 crore over five years for carbon capture technologies.
- Promotes long-term energy security and sustainable industrial practices.
Developing City Economic Regions
- Rs. 5,000 crore per CER over five years with reform-cum-results financing.
- Seven high-speed rail growth corridors: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, Varanasi-Siliguri.
- Banking and NBFC restructuring, municipal bond incentives and foreign investment reforms.
Content Creator Labs
- 15,000 labs in secondary schools and 500 in colleges.
- Support from Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai.
- Focus on animation, visual effects, gaming, comics (AVGC) and skill development.
National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid
- Digitally documents cultural, heritage and tourist sites.
- Supports conservation, public access, and employment for historians, guides and researchers.
Khelo India Mission
- National program to develop sports infrastructure and talent.
- Long-term plan to nurture youth participation and excellence.
Bharat-VISTAAR
- Multilingual AI platform integrating AgriStack with ICAR packages.
- Supports precision farming, data-driven agriculture with high-value crops like coconut, sandalwood, cocoa and cashew.
Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana
- Task-oriented employment opportunities in IT, AVGC, hospitality and food sectors.
- Promotes skill-based inclusion for differently-abled individuals.
Commitment to Mental Health and Trauma Care
- NIMHANS-2 in North India.
- Upgraded mental health institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur as regional apex institutions.
- Focus on accessibility and quality mental health services nationwide.
