Budget 2026: TCS on education reduced to 2%, says Nirmala Sitharaman
India Today
Union Budget 2026 places education at the centre of India's growth strategy, with major announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on skill development, AI-driven learning, healthcare training, women in STEM, new institutes, and youth-focused reforms aimed at boosting jobs and human capital.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 today, marking a historic first for India's fiscal calendar, as the budget was unveiled on the weekend for the very first time. The speech also marked a significant political milestone, as it was her ninth consecutive budget presented during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This year's budget places education at the heart of India's growth strategy, signalling a clear intent to strengthen human capital and future-ready skills as key drivers of long-term economic resilience.
The government has expressed its reform agenda, with the Finance Minister stating that over 350 reforms have been rolled out to drive job creation, making this year’s budget strongly focused on Yuva Shakti (youth power).
1. The Finance Minister proposed setting up three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, upgrading seven existing institutes, and creating a network of 1,000 accredited clinical trial centres across India.
2. Nirmala Sitharaman said that ICAI and ICSI will introduce short-term modern courses and expand the Corporate Mitra initiative, with a special focus on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
3. The Finance Minister highlighted a strong focus on women in STEM and youth in technology through new initiatives such as an AI Mission, a National Research Fund, and an Innovation Fund aimed at building aspirations and strengthening capacities.
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