Budget 2026: India's 25-Year Marathon for Viksit Bharat, Not a One-Year Sprint

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her record ninth consecutive Union Budget, focusing on long-term growth and fiscal prudence.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Budget 2026-27 as a foundation for 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, despite global economic headwinds.
• The Budget emphasizes capital investment, reimagining MSMEs as 'future champions', and a significant push for the services sector.
• Key initiatives include seven new High-Speed Rail Corridors, recognizing cities as economic regions, and strategic investments in biopharma, semiconductors, and rare earths.
• A major shift towards inclusion through productivity and enterprise creation, rather than subsidies, along with a focus on mental health, marks this forward-looking budget.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026 outlines a long-term vision for India's economic development, prioritizing fiscal prudence, capital investment, and strategic sector growth for a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.