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Union Budget 2026–27 historic & unprecedented : Chouhan
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Tuesday, 03 February, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has described the Union Budget 2026–27 as historic and unprecedented, emphasising that it lays a strong foundation for a developed and self-reliant India (Viksit Bharat) under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. This Budget, presented for the 12th time under the Prime Minister, also marks the ninth consecutive Budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, the first woman Finance Minister to achieve this feat.
Chouhan highlighted that the Budget is designed with a focus on social prosperity, addressing the needs of villages, the poor, farmers, youth and women. It aims to accelerate poverty reduction and empower the poor towards self-reliance.
A key initiative in this budget is the expansion of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme through ‘SHE-Mart’, which will establish community-owned retail outlets in every district. These outlets will serve as platforms for women’s Self-Help Groups to market their products, fostering entrepreneurship among rural women.
Significant allocations include a 21% increase in the Rural Development Ministry’s Budget, with the combined Rural Development and Agriculture Budget crossing Rs 4,35,779 crore. This reflects a continued commitment to rural India and farmers. Funds for MGNREGA and the Viksit Bharat G Ram G scheme have been substantially increased, supported further by direct transfers to panchayats under the 16th Finance Commission.
The agriculture Budget has been raised to Rs 1.32 lakh crore, with nearly Rs 10,000 crore earmarked for agricultural research and education, particularly through ICAR. A fertiliser subsidy of over Rs 1.70 lakh crore is aimed at reducing costs for farmers.
New provisions under the National Fibre Scheme and support for high-value crops like coconut, cocoa, cashew and sandalwood are expected to boost farmer income and strengthen value chains across sectors.
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