Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday with a strong focus on education and healthcare infrastructure. The government announced plans to improve facilities for students and provide better support for traditional medicine and animal care. These new schemes aim to help people in rural areas and small towns access better services near their homes.
What are the new announcements for students and schools?
The government plans to modernize education by setting up Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) labs. These labs will be established in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country with support from the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies.
To ensure safety and easier access for female students, the Finance Minister announced the construction of one girls’ hostel in every district of India. This will help girls from rural areas pursue higher education. Additionally, five new university townships will be developed near industrial corridors to integrate learning with skill development.
What is in the budget for healthcare and animal husbandry?
The budget focuses on expanding traditional medicine by setting up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda. The existing WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar will also be upgraded to support better research. The government also plans to support states in setting up five regional medical hubs with private partners.
For the veterinary sector, a new loan-linked capital subsidy scheme was announced. This will help private veterinary hospitals and clinics get financial support. The government aims to add over 20,000 veterinary professionals to the workforce through this credit support system.
