Union Budget 2026: Key Announcements Unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Presenting the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined a series of major policy initiatives and investment plans, stressing long-term structural reforms, self-reliance, public investment, and fiscal stability. Despite February 1 falling on a Sunday, the budget was presented as per tradition.
Highlighting India’s steady economic progress, the Finance Minister said the government has implemented over 350 reforms, including GST simplification, strengthened energy security, and boosted domestic manufacturing capacity.
Major announcements in Union Budget 2026 include:
- Semiconductor Mission 2.0 to be launched
- ₹40,000 crore allocation to promote the semiconductor sector
- ₹10,000 crore for the biotechnology sector
- Special chemical parks to be developed in partnership with states
- New scheme to boost sports goods manufacturing
- Rare earth mineral extraction projects in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha
- New industrial corridors connecting eastern and western regions
- Launch of ‘Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj’ scheme to strengthen khadi, handloom, and handicrafts
- Establishment of three new Ayurveda educational institutions
- Traditional medicine research centre to be set up in Jamnagar, Gujarat
- Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) allowed to invest directly in Indian stock markets
- One women’s hostel in every district
- ₹10,000 crore allocation for MSMEs
- High-speed rail corridors between Chennai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Hyderabad
- Development of 20 inland waterways across India for public transport
- ₹10,000 crore to boost container manufacturing
- Creation of economic zones nationwide with an investment of ₹5,000 crore
The budget signals a strong push toward infrastructure growth, industrial expansion, women’s welfare, and regional connectivity, with Chennai emerging as a key beneficiary in transport development.
