Budget 2026 Expectations Highlights

Union Budget 2026 Expectations Highlights: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to table the Union Budget 2026–27 on Sunday, February 1. Industry leaders are calling for a pragmatic mix of reforms that can cushion global uncertainties while addressing domestic imperatives such as AI-led growth, manufacturing expansion, and energy transition.

With the Union Budget just around the corner, attention is firmly fixed on North Block as corporate India looks for cues on the road ahead. Companies across sectors are hoping for clarity on taxes, reforms, and policy priorities that can unlock the next leg of economic momentum.

Seen as a critical milestone in advancing the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the Budget is expected to set the tone for India’s medium-term growth strategy.

Union Budget 2026 should prioritise AI-led education overhaul: FLAME University

Dr. Sorabh Bajaj, Director, Centre for Digital Learning, FLAME University, said, "India must move beyond fragmented AI pilots and towards a clear, time-bound national strategy for education. Every learner, whether in a rural classroom or a leading university, should be able to access AI-powered tools, high-quality content, and personalised mentorship in their own language."

"The Union Budget 2026 presents a critical opportunity to enable this shift by prioritising three foundational pillars. First, India needs robust digital infrastructure across schools and colleges with reliable internet connectivity, affordable devices, and secure cloud ecosystems that can support AI at scale. Second, large-scale and continuous capacity-building for teachers is essential so that AI becomes an enabler in the classroom, not an added burden. Third, India must invest in open, India-centric datasets and platforms, allowing educators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to build solutions rooted in local realities.

"If these priorities are addressed together, AI can become a powerful equaliser in education, narrowing learning gaps rather than widening them, and nurturing a generation of problem-solvers equipped to design solutions not just for India, but for the world," said Dr. Bajaj.

This article has valuable insights of Dr. Sorabh Bajaj, Director, Centre for Digital Learning, FLAME University.