New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposed to strengthen India's healthcare infrastructure by creating regional medical hubs and new Ayurveda institutes, potentially opening up new career paths for the country's youth in allied health, caregiving, and medical tourism.

In her ninth consecutive budget-and the first on a Sunday in at least a decade-Sitharaman said the government aims to make medical services more accessible while bridging the gap between traditional practices and advanced emergency treatment.

The government plans a significant expansion of specialized mental health and neurological services by expanding the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). It is a top hospit...