Nirmala Sitharaman's 85-Minute Budget 2026 Speech: Key Priorities and Announcements

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 in Lok Sabha, delivering an 85-minute speech.
• Three main priorities outlined: accelerating economic growth, building people's capabilities, and ensuring equitable access to resources.
• Key announcements include BioPharma Shakti (₹10,000 crore), India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, and extended customs duty exemption for lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
• Proposals for tax exemption for global cloud service companies until 2047 and increased public capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore.
• New initiatives like Regional Medical Centers, University Townships, STEM Hostels, and High-Speed Rail Corridors were also announced.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026 focuses on economic growth, capability building, and equitable access with significant investments in key sectors.