Union Budget Live Updates 2026: Key Highlights for Women, Children and Youth

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026, marking her ninth consecutive budget speech. This also made history as the first time India’s Union Budget is being presented on a Sunday.

She highlighted that the budget 2026 will be based on three “kartavyas”. These, she sai,d would be: 

• The first goal is to accelerate and sustain economic growth. This would be done by boosting competitiveness and building resilience against global uncertainties.

• The second is to fulfil people’s aspirations by strengthening their capabilities, and making them active partners in India’s journey towards prosperity.

• The third kartavya is to ensure Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, so that every family, community and region has access to resources, amenities and opportunities.

These would be achieved through a threefold approach and a supportive ecosystem. It would include:

• Structural reforms

• Robust and resilient financial sector

• Cutting-edge technologies, including AI-driven systems. 

She also said that budget 2026 is 'Yuva Shakti' driven.

Hostels for Girls 

Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government will build one girls' hostel in every district across India. This is aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and providing secure living spaces for students.

Across India, especially in rural areas, some persistent challenges exist, such as dropout rates among adolescent girls, and this move aims to address these. The move will be focused particularly in districts where distance, safety concerns and affordability act as barriers to continued education.

Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts To Support Women Entrepreneurship

Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts to be set up, which will support women entrepreneurship. 

This would primarily enable women to move up the economic value chain.

Sitharaman said the government would now support women in taking the “next step from credit-linked livelihood to owners of enterprises.”

Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming Sector

Sitharaman highlighted that India's animation, visual effects, and gaming sector is growing industry, and proposed to support the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies in Mumbai to set up labs across the country.

The FM highlighted that the design industry is growing rapidly and promised to support education initiatives in the domain. 

Education-To-Employment Standing Committee 

Another highlight was the government's plan to set up a high-powered education-to-employment standing committee. This Committee would be prioritising areas to optimise potential for growth in the services space. Addtionally, it would also review the impact of new technology like AI on the services sector.