Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on the post-Budget interplay (ETV Bharat)
New Delhi: The Union Budget 2026–27 marks a decisive shift in the direction of technology-driven, AI-integrated structural reforms that can form India’s improvement trajectory over the following quarter century, mentioned Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh right here on Tuesday.
Addressing media after a post-Budget interplay organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Singh described the Budget as “inherently futuristic, rooted in a clear and sequential vision where structural reforms are increasingly powered by cutting-edge technologies, and cutting-edge technologies themselves are driven by artificial intelligence”. He famous that whereas the complete affect of the Budget could take time to be appreciated, “it lays down a forward-looking framework that integrates research, manufacturing, and deployment into a single mission-oriented approach”.
“The Budget reflects a long-term vision. It is not meant to be assessed only through immediate gains or losses, but through how it prepares India for the future,” the Minister mentioned, including knowledgeable stakeholders, together with the media, have a accountability to speak its long-term advantages to residents.
‘Relief for the center class by means of decrease well being prices’
Responding to questions on whether or not the Budget adequately addresses center class’ considerations, Dr Singh mentioned its true affect lies not in short-term earnings calculations however in sustained reduction from rising healthcare and dwelling prices. He pointed in the direction of large-scale investments in biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, vaccines, and gene-based therapies, which he mentioned would considerably cut back the monetary burden on households affected by persistent sicknesses.
Highlighting India’s mounting well being challenges, the Minister mentioned the nation presently has over 11–12 crore diabetics and almost 14 crore pre-diabetics, alongside a quickly rising most cancers burden that might contact two million circumstances yearly by 2030. “Affordable drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics, backed by domestic biomanufacturing, will be a major social and economic support, particularly for the middle class and vulnerable sections,” he mentioned.
Biopharma Shakti and the upcoming bio-revolution
A key pillar of the Budget, in line with Dr Singh, is the Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti initiative. He mentioned India has already emerged as a worldwide bio-manufacturing hub, rating among the many main bio-economies globally and throughout the Indo-Pacific area. The new outlay, he mentioned, will additional strengthen capabilities throughout biologics, biosimilars, vaccines, medical units, and gene-based applied sciences.
Describing biotechnology as the following main industrial driver, the Minister in contrast its future affect to the position performed by info expertise in earlier many years. “The next industrial revolution will be a bio-revolution,” he mentioned, noting that it might lengthen past healthcare to areas resembling recycling, regeneration, round economic system fashions, and superior life-science improvements.
Focus on psychological well being and conventional medication
Dr Singh mentioned the Budget addresses non-communicable illnesses and psychological well being, areas that had been uncared for in earlier many years. He introduced the institution of recent super-speciality educational and scientific institutes for psychological well being in North India, geared toward guaranteeing wider and extra equitable entry to care.
The Budget additionally proposes new institutes of Ayurveda and pharmaceutical training. According to the Minister, these initiatives will strengthen conventional programs of drugs whereas integrating them with fashionable analysis, evidence-based practices, and up to date healthcare supply.
Nuclear vitality, crucial minerals and geospatial reforms
On the vitality entrance, Dr Singh highlighted the extension of customs obligation exemptions on imported parts for nuclear energy crops until 2035. He mentioned the transfer would enhance challenge effectivity and entice credible home and worldwide funding, whereas aligning with latest reforms that encourage better personal sector participation within the nuclear ecosystem.
The Minister additionally referred to the event of uncommon earth corridors and important mineral initiatives, calling them important for clear vitality applied sciences, electronics manufacturing, and strategic industries. These measures, he mentioned, would assist cut back import dependence and improve India’s industrial resilience.
Calling the National Geospatial Mission a foundational reform, Dr Singh mentioned it might play a decisive position in deliberate urbanisation, infrastructure design, and land administration, particularly as India experiences speedy rural-to-urban migration. Implemented by means of the PM Gati Shakti platform, the Mission will allow evidence-based planning utilizing satellites, drones, and superior mapping applied sciences.
Climate motion, AI in agriculture, and inclusivity
The Budget’s Rs 20,000 crore allocation for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) was described by Dr Singh as a crucial step in the direction of industrial decarbonisation, round economic system practices, and environmental sustainability. He additionally introduced structured deployment of AI in agriculture, geared toward boosting productiveness whereas safeguarding farmers from potential unintended penalties of expertise adoption.
Emphasising inclusivity, the Minister mentioned the Budget contains measures that straight profit the poorest sections, together with improved healthcare entry, inexpensive medicines, district-level most cancers care amenities, women-led entrepreneurship programmes, and livelihood era by means of science-based interventions.
Strong push for science infrastructure
Senior officers from science departments echoed the Minister’s evaluation of the Budget’s concentrate on expertise and innovation. Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Prof Abhay Karandikar, mentioned the emphasis on science was evident from the repeated point out of “technology” within the Finance Minister’s speech.
He introduced the creation of two mega science R&D infrastructure amenities—a 30-metre National Large Optical Telescope and a National Large Solar Telescope close to Pangong Lake. These amenities, he mentioned, would complement India’s house and photo voltaic missions and considerably improve international scientific collaboration.
Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, mentioned the Biopharma Shakti programme builds on the success of the National Biopharma Mission and goals to speed up the interpretation of analysis into manufacturing. The initiative, he mentioned, would strengthen industry-academia partnerships, shared infrastructure, scientific trial networks, and vaccine improvement, whereas additionally integrating biotechnology-based carbon utilisation applied sciences.
Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr M Ravichandran, outlined Budget initiatives below the Blue Economy, together with growth of nationwide waterways, coastal tourism, offshore and deep-sea fisheries, and sustainable transport. He mentioned new insurance policies allowing fishing past territorial waters and in excessive seas would unlock financial alternatives whereas sustaining environmental accountability.
Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, Dr N Kalaiselvi, mentioned CSIR would play a central position throughout a number of Budget initiatives, together with CCUS, semiconductors, crucial minerals, uncommon earth magnets, clear vitality, and superior manufacturing. She added that CSIR laboratories have been designated as centres of excellence for crucial metals and minerals, aligning nationwide analysis capabilities with industrial and strategic wants.
Concluding the interplay, Dr Singh mentioned the Budget displays a mission-oriented method the place analysis, manufacturing, and deployment transfer collectively. He mentioned the science-led reforms introduced alongside the Budget underscore India’s readiness to compete in technology-intensive international sectors, whereas guaranteeing that progress stays inclusive, sustainable, and citizen-centric.
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