Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament, emphasisinghting the second Kartavya of the government fulfilling the aspirations of common citizens the Budget positions AI and advanced technologies as key enablers for empowering farmers, women in STEM, youth, and Divyangjan with new opportunities.

The Budget proposes several initiatives to strengthen India’s tech ecosystem:

AI Mission & National Quantum Mission: Designed to accelerate adoption of AI and quantum technologies across sectors.

Anusandhan National Research Fund & R&D Innovation Fund: Supporting research, innovation, and technology-driven solutions for societal benefit.

Recognizing the economic potential of India’s Orange Economy, the Budget focuses on the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sector, projected to require 2 million professionals by 2030. To support this, the government plans to establish AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, facilitated by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai.

Additionally, the Budget announces a new National Institute of Design in Eastern India to strengthen design education, catering to the rapidly growing design industry.

In agriculture, the Union Budget introduces Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), a multilingual AI platform integrating AgriStack portals and ICAR’s agricultural packages. The tool aims to enhance farm productivity, improve decision-making, and provide customized advisory services to farmers, thereby reducing risk.

Addressing workforce transformation, the Budget proposes a High-Powered “Education to Employment and Enterprise” Standing Committee to assess the impact of AI and emerging technologies on jobs and skills, and to recommend measures for reskilling and upskilling the workforce.

Sitharaman reiterated that the adoption of emerging technologies is intended “for the benefit of all,” ensuring India’s citizens become strong partners in the nation’s path to prosperity through innovation, skill development, and equitable access to technology.

With a strong focus on AI, quantum computing, and creative technologies, the Union Budget 2026-27 signals India’s intent to leverage the next wave of technological transformation to boost growth, employment, and citizen empowerment.