Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 1: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday strongly endorsed the Union Budget 2025–26, saying it underlines Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s determination to turn the idea of a self-reliant and developed India into reality, not just rhetoric. He described the Budget as a concrete and actionable roadmap that touches every sector and section of society.
In a series of social media posts, Shah said the Budget offers a clear, ground-level vision designed to drive progress across the country. Referring to it as the “Viksit Bharat Budget,” he said it reflects India’s ambition to emerge as a global leader across domains ranging from manufacturing and infrastructure to healthcare, tourism, artificial intelligence and rural development.
According to the Home Minister, the Budget is especially focused on empowering youth, women and farmers, ensuring that growth reaches villages, towns and cities alike. He said the proposals align with the long-term goal of building a developed India by 2047 and lay out a vision for the next 25 years, deserving appreciation for both the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Shah highlighted the allocation of Rs 12.2 lakh crore for capital expenditure as a key step towards making India future-ready. He noted that initiatives aimed at Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities — including new rail corridors, National Waterways and improved connectivity — would generate employment and expand economic opportunities beyond major urban centres.
He also pointed to the announcement of seven high-speed rail corridors, calling it a major push to transform inter-city connectivity and significantly reduce travel time between important economic and population hubs.
On rural development, Shah welcomed the launch of the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Yojana, saying it advances Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of self-sufficient villages and will strengthen the rural economy. He said special schemes for coconut farmers in coastal areas would benefit nearly three crore farmers, while measures to boost cashew and cocoa production, along with sandalwood conservation, would further support agricultural livelihoods.
The Home Minister said the Budget positions MSMEs as drivers of India’s growth through a structured three-pronged approach, including a Rs 10,000 crore Growth Fund. He noted that professional handholding for MSMEs in smaller cities would help them scale up and contribute more effectively to the economy.
He also underlined initiatives aimed at raising farmers’ incomes through livestock development, including expanding veterinary services, offering credit-linked subsidies for dairy and poultry sectors, promoting fisheries through the creation of 500 ponds, and facilitating access to global markets.
Shah praised the focus on culture and tourism, citing plans to develop 15 archaeological sites — including Dholavira — as global cultural destinations. He said projects such as a Buddhist Circuit in the Northeast, mountain trails in Himalayan states and eco-tourism initiatives like turtle trails would spur regional development and sustainable tourism. The proposed National Institute of Hospitality, he added, would create new skill and employment opportunities for youth.
On education and innovation, Shah said the development of five university townships near major industrial and logistics corridors would strengthen education-industry linkages. He also welcomed investments in research infrastructure, AVGC labs in schools and colleges, and the formation of a high-powered committee on education-to-employment, calling these steps crucial for building a skilled, globally competitive India.