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Budget 2026-27 Aims for Growth, Jobs, and Healthcare Boost: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated the Union Budget 2026-27 is designed to accelerate economic growth and generate employment through structural reforms. Key proposals include a Rs 10,000 crore investment to maintain India's leadership in the biopharma sector. The budget significantly boosts healthcare funding, aiming to create 1 lakh Allied Health Professionals and enhance mental health services. Sitharaman positioned this budget as a step towards the vision of a developed India by 2047.

Key Points: Budget 2026-27 Focuses on Growth, Reforms, and Job Creation

  • Rs 10,000 crore for biopharma sector
  • Enhanced health budget by 10%
  • Creation of 1 lakh Allied Health Professionals
  • Vision for developed India by 2047
2 min read

Budget focuses on pushing growth, reforms, and jobs across sectors: FM Sitharaman

FM Nirmala Sitharaman outlines a budget focused on structural reforms, a Rs 10,000 crore biopharma push, and enhanced healthcare funding.

"The Budget focuses on building an ecosystem with structural reforms to improve productivity and create an environment that ensures employment generation across sectors. - Nirmala Sitharaman"

New Delhi, Feb 1

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that the Union Budget 2026-27 is designed to accelerate economic growth and create more jobs across sectors.

Addressing journalists after the presentation of the budget, the Finance Minister said: "The Budget focuses on building an ecosystem with structural reforms to improve productivity and create an environment that ensures employment generation across sectors. It is designed to maintain growth momentum through sustained economic expansion."

The emphasis on growth, reforms and job creation reflects the government's push for a tech-driven and inclusive economic framework, she said.

Explaining the fine print of her key proposals, the Finance Minister highlighted that the Rs 10,000 crore outlay earmarked in the Budget for the biopharma sector is aimed at ensuring India maintains its leadership in the global biopharma industry.

"Budget proposing Rs 10,000 crore investment in biopharma sector over next five years ensures India maintains lead in the sector," she remarked.

The Finance Minister also highlighted that in this year's budget, health has been given equal importance, with special emphasis on mental health.

The Budget marks a significant milestone in the government's ongoing efforts to strengthen India's healthcare system, with a substantial enhancement in the allocation for the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to Rs 1,06,530.42 crores, reflecting an increase of nearly 10 per cent over the Revised Estimates of FY 2025-26.

Her budget proposals include the creation of 1 lakh Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in 10 disciplines, like optometry, radiology, anaesthesia, over the next five years as part of the Budget proposals. Besides, more emergency and trauma centres, as well as mental health institutions like NIMHANS, are to be set up.

Sitharaman also announced that as many as 1.5 lakh caregivers would be created for geriatric and NSQF-aligned programmes in the country.

She also expressed optimism about India's new rare earth corridors proposed in the budget. She cited the example of the success achieved in the development of the existing defence corridors to illustrate her point.

She further stated that this budget is the first one in the second quarter of the century, leading towards the vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, along with "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas".

Asked why the Union Budget 2026-27 did not give special emphasis to states with upcoming elections like West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, Finance Minister Sitharaman quipped: "The government faces criticism either way."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally, a budget that talks about mental health! The emphasis on institutions like NIMHANS is long overdue. The caregiver creation for geriatric care is also very thoughtful. Good steps for an inclusive society.
R
Rohit P
All good on paper, but where are the immediate measures for job creation for engineers and graduates? The tech-driven framework sounds nice, but we need to see actual new positions opening up in the private sector. The FM's answer on state emphasis was a classic political dodge.
S
Sarah B
Investing in rare earth corridors and biopharma shows strategic thinking for the long term. It's about building economic resilience. The 2047 vision is ambitious, but these are the foundational sectors needed to get there.
V
Vikram M
The 10% increase in health budget is welcome, but is it enough given our population size? We need more primary health centers in rural areas. The focus on metros and big institutions is good, but the last-mile delivery is key.
K
Karthik V
"Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" should mean balanced development for all states. While I understand not tailoring the budget for elections, consistent regional equity in infrastructure and industrial projects is crucial for true national growth.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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