Union Budget 2026: Focus on Tier-2, Tier-3 Cities, Temple Towns as Growth Engines

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a prioritisation of Tier-2, Tier-3 cities, and temple towns, allocating Rs 5,000 crore annually for five years to boost urban infrastructure and civic amenities.
• The Budget introduces 'Corporate Mitras' initiative with modular professional courses by ICAI, ICMAI, ICSI to help SMEs in smaller cities with compliance.
• Five university townships near industrial corridors and one girls' hostel per district are planned to support education and female students.
• Seven new high-speed rail corridors, including Mumbai–Pune and Delhi–Varanasi, will enhance connectivity and regional growth.
• Twenty new national waterways, including NW-5 in Odisha, and sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and eco-tourism initiatives are also part of the budget.

Why It Matters: Union Budget 2026 prioritises developing smaller cities, enhancing connectivity, and boosting eco-tourism for India's growth.