Budget 2026 Charts AI-Led, Technology-Driven Reforms for India’s Future: Jitendra Singh
The Union Budget 2026–27 lays out a long-term, technology-driven roadmap for India’s development, with artificial intelligence and structural reforms at its core, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said on Feb. 2, 2026.
Calling it a “generational Budget,” Singh said the focus is not short-term gains but sustained relief for citizens, particularly the middle class, through lower healthcare costs, innovation and stronger domestic manufacturing.
He highlighted major investments in biopharma, diagnostics, vaccines and gene-based therapies to tackle rising cases of cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases. The ₹10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti initiative will expand India’s capabilities in biologics, biosimilars, vaccines and medical devices, positioning biotechnology as the next growth engine after IT.
The Budget also proposes new mental health institutes, Ayurveda and pharma education centres, and expanded affordable healthcare access.
Technology and AI will play a larger role in agriculture to improve productivity and protect farmers, while reforms such as the National Geospatial Mission, critical minerals development and a ₹20,000 crore outlay for carbon capture aim to support infrastructure, clean energy and sustainability.
On the science front, the government will set up two mega research facilities — a 30-metre optical telescope and a large solar telescope — to boost India’s global scientific standing.
“This is a mission-oriented Budget linking research, manufacturing and deployment to ensure inclusive, future-ready growth,” Singh said. (PIB)
