Union Budget 2026–27: Youth-driven vision, three Kartavyas and ‘Reform Express’ to power growth, Says FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the Union Budget 2026–27 is a “Yuva Shakti–driven Budget”, shaped by innovative ideas shared by young leaders during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, many of which have informed key policy proposals.

Presenting the Budget in Parliament, Sitharaman said the government’s Sankalp remains firmly focused on the poor, underprivileged and disadvantaged sections of society. She noted that the Budget, the first to be prepared in Kartavya Bhawan, is guided by three Kartavyas aimed at driving inclusive and sustainable growth.

Explaining the framework, the Finance Minister said the first Kartavya is to accelerate and sustain economic growth by enhancing productivity and competitiveness while building resilience against volatile global dynamics. The second Kartavya, she said, is to fulfil the aspirations of the people by building their capacity and making them strong partners in India’s journey towards prosperity.

The third Kartavya, aligned with the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, seeks to ensure that every family, community, region and sector has access to resources, amenities and opportunities for meaningful participation in growth, Sitharaman said.

She emphasised that achieving these objectives requires a strong and supportive ecosystem. According to the Finance Minister, sustaining the momentum of continuous, adaptive and forward-looking structural reforms is essential. She added that a robust and resilient financial sector is critical for mobilising savings, allocating capital efficiently and managing risks, while the use of cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, can act as force multipliers for improved governance.

Highlighting the government’s reform agenda, Sitharaman said comprehensive economic reforms have been undertaken to generate employment, boost productivity and accelerate growth. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Independence Day in 2025, more than 350 reforms have been rolled out, including simplification of the Goods and Services Tax, notification of Labour Codes and rationalisation of mandatory Quality Control Orders.

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She said high-level committees have been constituted, and the Centre is working closely with state governments to pursue deregulation and reduce compliance burdens. “The Reform Express is well on its way and will maintain its momentum to help us fulfil our Kartavyas,” the Finance Minister said.

Outlining interventions under the first Kartavya to accelerate and sustain growth, Sitharaman proposed measures across six key areas—scaling up manufacturing in seven strategic and frontier sectors, rejuvenating legacy industries, creating “Champion MSMEs”, providing a major push to infrastructure, ensuring long-term energy security and stability, and developing City Economic Regions.