New Delhi: The wait for the general public is over as India prepares for the second general budget of Modi 3.0, scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on February 1, 2026, a Sunday. On the recommendation of the Government of India, President Droupadi Murmu has approved the summoning of both Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session 2026. Ahead of budget day, she will address a joint session of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The Budget Session will commence on January 28, 2026, and continue until April 2, 2026. The first phase concludes on February 13, with Parliament reassembling on March 9, a key step toward meaningful debate and people-centric governance.
Modi 3.0’s upcoming budget is expected to focus on infrastructure, artificial intelligence, healthcare, technology, innovation, research, education, railways, and other citizen-focused schemes. Indian Railways is seeking significant allocations under the “Make in India, Make for the World” vision, with the Railway Ministry expecting over ₹3 lakh crore in funding.
Railway officials have outlined plans to expand passenger services, including more Vande Bharat Express, Amrit Bharat trains, and Namo Bharat trains. By this year, over 1,200 Amrit Bharat railway stations, 200 Vande Bharat Express trains, 100 Amrit Bharat trains, and 12 Vande Bharat sleeper trains are expected to be operational. Major projects in Uttarakhand and other states will require additional budget allocations, alongside enhanced railway safety and security funding.
The Indian Railways’ “52 Weeks, 52 Reforms” initiative reflects a time-bound agenda aimed at modernizing the rail network, enhancing capacity, and improving safety. The sector has already reduced consequential railway accidents by nearly 90%, from around 170 to about 12, with the next milestone targeting a 95% reduction. This will be supported by continued investment in safety infrastructure, workforce training, and advanced technologies, including wider deployment of the Kavach safety system.
Senior citizens can expect concessions on railway ticket fares in the 2026–2027 fiscal year.
As of December 2025, the Railway Ministry had utilized 80.54% of its total Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of ₹2,52,200 crore, spending ₹2,03,138 crore, marking a 6.54% increase in utilization compared to December 2024. Expenditure primarily focused on safety measures, capacity enhancement, infrastructure modernization, and passenger amenities. In safety-related works, 84% of allocated funds were used; for capacity augmentation, ₹76,048 crore of ₹1,09,238 crore (69%) was expended; and customer amenities saw 80% utilization, amounting to ₹9,575 crore.
The Modi 3.0 Budget 2026 is shaping up as a transformative roadmap for Indian Railways, combining modernization, safety, and citizen-centric growth initiatives.
