Union Budget 2025-26: Key Highlights and Major Announcements

The Union Budget 2025-26, presented by the Finance Minister, lays down a roadmap for economic growth, infrastructure development, digital transformation, and social welfare. With a strong focus on Viksit Bharat, the budget aims to enhance private sector investments, strengthen agriculture, boost MSMEs, and promote innovation.

Economic Growth & Infrastructure Development

• Vision for Viksit Bharat: Encouraging inclusive development and improving spending power.
• Infrastructure Boost: ₹1.5 lakh crore interest-free loans for states; ₹10 lakh crore asset monetization plan.
• Maritime & Aviation Expansion: ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund; UDAN expansion to cover 120 new destinations.
• Nuclear Energy Mission: Policy amendments to allow private sector participation in nuclear energy projects.

Agriculture & Rural Development

• Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: Developing 100 Agri Districts to support farmers.
• Financial Support for Farmers: Enhanced ₹5 lakh credit via Kisan Credit Cards benefiting 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers.
• Cotton Productivity Mission: A five-year program to enhance cotton yield and income.
• Pulses Mission: Focus on Tur, Urad & Masoor with a six-year implementation plan.

Startup & MSMEs 

• Micro Enterprises Credit Cards: ₹5 lakh credit limit for micro enterprises to boost small businesses.
• Startup & MSME Support: ₹2 crore term loans for 5 lakh first-time entrepreneurs, with a focus on SC, ST & women.
• Toy & Footwear Industry Growth: Cluster-based approach to boost employment and exports.
• Food Processing Expansion: National Institute of Food Technology in Bihar to enhance food processing capabilities.

Social Welfare & Human Capital Development

• Education & AI Integration: 10,000 additional medical seats; AI Centres of Excellence; 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in government schools.
• Healthcare Expansion: Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals for improved healthcare access.
• PM SVANidhi Expansion: Digital credit-linked UPI access for street vendors.
• Welfare for Online Platform Workers: Registration on e-Shram and healthcare benefits under PM Jan Arogya Yojana.

Innovation & Digital Transformation

• R&D Investments: ₹20,000 crore allocated for private-sector-driven research & innovation.
• BharatTradeNet: Unified digital infrastructure for international trade.
• National Geospatial Mission: Using PM Gati Shakti for land records modernization and infrastructure planning.

Export & Trade Promotion

• Export Promotion Mission: Simplifying export credit access and tackling non-tariff barriers.
• Global Capability Centres (GCCs): National framework to promote GCCs in Tier-2 cities.
• Air Cargo Warehousing: Strengthening infrastructure for perishable exports.

Also Read: Union Budget 2025-26: FMCG Sector Gains from Rural Focus and Tax Reforms