Union Budget announces seven high speed rail corridors

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set the tone early in her Budget 2026 speech, describing it as the first Budget prepared in Kartavya Bhavan and rooted in what she called three guiding ‘Kartavya’ principles. The emphasis was clear: accelerate growth, empower citizens, and ensure that development reaches every region and community.

In the opening stretch of her address, Sitharaman unveiled a sweeping set of proposals focused on manufacturing, MSMEs, infrastructure expansion and city-led economic growth. Here’s a detailed look at the major announcements made in the first 20 minutes.

The Finance Minister outlined a "Reform Express" built around interventions in six key areas. These include scaling up manufacturing in seven strategic sectors, rejuvenating legacy industries, championing MSMEs, building powerful infrastructure, ensuring long-term security and stability, and developing city economic regions.