New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27 in Parliament today (February 1, 2026), marking her ninth consecutive Budget. The government reiterated its focus on poverty eradication, job creation, higher investment, and the vision of a “Viksit Bharat,” with strong emphasis on GST simplification, infrastructure, healthcare, education, women’s development, and tourism.
Several announcements directly impact household budgets. Here’s a quick, clear breakdown:
🔺 What Gets Costlier
- Tobacco and cigarettes become more expensive
- Pan masala faces a separate cess
🔻 What Gets Cheaper
- Medicines for cancer and diabetes to see price relief
Agriculture, Environment & Fisheries
- Conservation of turtle nesting sites in Karnataka and Kerala
- Special push to increase sandalwood production
- 500 “Amrit reservoirs” nationwide to support fisheries and water management
- Boost for coconut, sandalwood, and cashew production in coastal regions
Education & Employment
- High-level committees to better align education with employment
- National Institute of Design to be set up in eastern India
- Hostels for girl students in every district
Healthcare
- Expansion of specialist doctor training across public and private sectors
- Three new All India Ayurveda Institutes
- Medical hubs to be developed at five locations across the country
Railways & Transport
Seven high-speed rail corridors announced, including:
Gold Rate
28 Jan 2026
- Mumbai–Pune
- Pune–Hyderabad
- Hyderabad–Bengaluru
- Delhi–Varanasi
- Varanasi–Siliguri
Infrastructure
- Infrastructure development for cities with populations above five lakh
- ₹2,000 crore allocation for Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives
- 20 new national waterways planned over the next five years
Women & Rural Development
- SHE-MART platforms for rural women entrepreneurs
- Launch of Khelo India Mission
- Development of 15 archaeological sites
Economy & State Funding
- Finance Minister stated India’s economy remains stable
- ₹1.4 lakh crore to be distributed to states as grants in 2027
Tourism
- New policies to promote medical tourism
- First Global Tiger Conference to be hosted in India
- Development of world-class trekking destinations
- Plan to build a Buddhist circuit in Northeast India
In summary: Union Budget 2026 places strong bets on healthcare, infrastructure, women’s empowerment, tourism, and self-reliance. While products like tobacco get pricier, relief on critical medicines and wide-ranging development initiatives aim to balance household impact with long-term growth. The real story now shifts from announcements to execution.
