New Delhi, February 11, 2026:
Former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur on Wednesday lauded the Union Budget 2026–27 while speaking in Parliament, describing it as a “welfare-oriented budget dedicated to the well-being and prosperity of all.”
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he said the ninth budget presented under the Modi government is forward-looking and focused on long-term nation-building. “Unlike the political documents of the past, our budgets are grounded in development and driven by a national mission with public participation,” he stated.
Thakur highlighted that the Budget gives special attention to 12 key sectors including banking, artificial intelligence, industry, healthcare, education, women empowerment, tourism, agriculture, defence, energy, railways, and transport. He noted that capital expenditure has been increased from ₹11.2 lakh crore to ₹12.2 lakh crore, signaling the government’s commitment to achieving the goal of a developed India.
Referring to healthcare expansion, he said that while the country had only seven AIIMS institutions even after 70 years of independence, there are now 23 AIIMS across India, including in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, and Assam. He added that the number of medical colleges has risen from 387 in 2014 to 706, and MBBS seats have increased from 51,000 to over 1.07 lakh.
Speaking on the global economy, Thakur rejected claims that India is a “dead economy,” asserting instead that India is emerging as a dominant global economic force. He cited India’s growing international partnerships and economic strength as evidence of this progress.
On Artificial Intelligence, he said the government’s vision is “AI for All,” ensuring that farmers, youth, women, and marginalized sections benefit from technological advancement. He stated that data centres and cloud services will receive tax incentives for the next 20 years to strengthen India’s digital infrastructure. The government aims to make India an AI Innovation Hub by 2030, noting that globally over 80 million AI professionals will be required by then.
He reiterated that the Budget reflects a long-term vision focused on infrastructure creation, innovation, employment generation, and inclusive growth.
