Hyderabad, Feb. 1 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, February 1, said the Union Budget 2026-27 is a "yuva shakti-driven budget", placing renewed emphasis on education, skills and the services sector to fulfil the aspirations of India's youthful population.

Presenting the Budget in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said fulfilling aspirations and building capacities form the government's second kartavya, noting that close to 25 crore people have come out of multidimensional poverty over the past decade through sustained, reform-oriented efforts.

"Our second Kartavya is to fulfil aspirations and build capacities," the Finance Minister said, adding that the government will now place renewed emphasis on the services sector as a core ...