Budget 2026 Government Schemes: Complete Sector-Wise Guide

When Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rose to present the Union Budget 2026–27 on February 1, the message was unmistakable: India’s next phase of growth will be powered by targeted schemes, regional development, and long-term capacity building rather than headline-grabbing giveaways.

From agriculture and healthcare to infrastructure, green growth, and tourism, Budget 2026 introduces a wide-ranging portfolio of government schemes aimed at strengthening livelihoods, generating employment, and future-proofing the economy. Here’s a clean, comprehensive breakdown of what was announced—and why it matters.

Budget 2026 Government Schemes

Agriculture & Rural Development

In agriculture, Budget 2026 signals a clear shift towards technology-enabled farming and income diversification. A key announcement is Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI-based platform that will integrate agricultural resources and provide customised advisory services to farmers across regions. Complementing this digital push, the government has proposed the integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars, aimed at improving water availability while strengthening fisheries and allied rural livelihoods.

The budget also places strong emphasis on high-value agriculture. Targeted support has been announced for crops such as coconut, cashew, cocoa, sandalwood, almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts—sectors seen as critical for boosting farmer incomes and export potential. A dedicated Coconut Promotion Scheme seeks to enhance productivity and value-chain development, while a credit-linked subsidy programme for animal husbandry aims to promote entrepreneurship, modernise livestock enterprises, and expand veterinary infrastructure at the grassroots level.

Healthcare

Healthcare emerges as both a social priority and a major employment generator in Budget 2026. The government plans to significantly expand the allied health workforce by upgrading existing institutions and establishing new ones, with a target of adding one lakh Allied Health Professionals over the next five years. Alongside this, a new caregiver training initiative will equip 1.5 lakh individuals with blended healthcare and allied skills, addressing the growing demand for trained caregivers.

To position India as a global healthcare destination, five regional medical value tourism hubs will be developed in partnership with the private sector. At the same time, the budget strengthens mental health and trauma care infrastructure through the establishment of NIMHANS-2, upgrades to institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur, and the expansion of emergency trauma care centres at the district level.

Education & Skill Development

Budget 2026’s education agenda is focused on bridging the persistent gap between learning and employability. The government has proposed the creation of five new university townships located near industrial and logistics corridors, enabling closer collaboration between academia and industry. To improve access for women in higher education, particularly in STEM fields, one girls’ hostel will be established in every district.

Recognising the growth of the creator economy, the budget announces AVGC content creator labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges nationwide. Creative education will receive a further boost with the establishment of a new National Institute of Design campus in eastern India. Additionally, a high-powered standing committee will be formed to align education policy with employment outcomes and enterprise growth.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Infrastructure continues to anchor the government’s growth strategy, with public capital expenditure increased to ₹12.2 lakh crore for FY 2026–27. To accelerate project execution and attract private participation, an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund will be created to de-risk large-scale projects.

The budget also places renewed emphasis on waterways and multimodal logistics. Over the next five years, 20 new national waterways will be operationalised, alongside the development of ship repair ecosystems in Varanasi and Patna. Measures to promote coastal shipping aim to reduce logistics costs and congestion on roads and railways.

Urban and regional development receives a boost through the City Economic Regions Scheme, under which ₹5,000 crore will be allocated per region to develop Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and temple towns as economic hubs. In addition, seven high-speed rail corridors have been announced to connect major cities, while viability gap funding for seaplanes is expected to improve last-mile connectivity and tourism access.

Services & Employment

Targeted employment schemes in Budget 2026 focus on expanding economic participation among women and persons with disabilities. SHE-Marts—community-owned retail outlets—will be established to support women-led rural enterprises and improve market access. For Divyangjan, specialised skill development programmes will be rolled out in sectors such as IT, AVGC, hospitality, and services, alongside enhanced support for assistive devices through strengthened technology centres and ALIMCO.

Tourism, Culture & Heritage

Tourism is positioned as a high-potential employment sector in Budget 2026. A pilot programme will train 10,000 tourist guides across 20 iconic destinations, while a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will digitally document India’s cultural, spiritual, and heritage sites.

The government also plans to develop eco-tourism trails focused on mountain regions, turtle habitats, and bird-watching zones, alongside the experiential development of 15 archaeological sites. On the global stage, India will host the International Big Cat Alliance Summit, with participation from 95 range countries, reinforcing its leadership in wildlife conservation.

Sustainability & Green Growth

Sustainability moves from intent to investment in Budget 2026. The government has allocated ₹20,000 crore over five years for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) projects across key industries. Clean energy initiatives will support renewable power generation and critical mineral processing, while green transport measures aim to promote inland waterways, coastal shipping, and low-carbon logistics networks.

What This Means Going Forward

Collectively, the government schemes announced in Budget 2026 reflect a shift towards long-term institution-building and regional development. Farmers, youth, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and small businesses stand to benefit—but much will depend on execution and timely rollout of scheme guidelines.

Detailed eligibility criteria and application processes will be notified by the respective ministries in the coming months through central and state government portals.