New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Social sectors, encompassing health, education, and social justice, emerged as key gainers in the union Budget 2026-27 tabled by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday.
The government has allocated a total of nearly Rs 2.60 lakh crores across the three sectors in 2026-27, up from Rs 2.30 lakh crores spent by the Centre in the last financial year, marking a significant surge of 12.72 per cent.
Health research saw a sharp rise in allocations, with budget estimates increasing by nearly 23 per cent, from Rs 3,900 crore in 2025-26 to Rs 4,821 crore in the current fiscal year. Of the total outlay, about Rs 4,000 crore will be channelled into biomedical and health research through the Indian Council of Medical Res...