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 driver of Viksit Bharat and as a pathway for a youthful India.

Services-led growth and jobs

Nirmala Sitharaman announced the setting up of a high-powered Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee to recommend measures focused on the services sector.

She said the committee will work towards making India a global leader in services with a 10 per cent share of global services by 2047, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The committee will prioritise areas to optimise growth, employment and exports, assess the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence on jobs and skill requirements, and propose appropriate measures, she said.

Creative economy and digital skills

Highlighting the growth potential of the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector, Sitharaman said the industry is projected to require around two million professionals by 2030.

To build skills at scale, she proposed supporting the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai, to set up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country.

‘Yuva Shakti’ focus

Calling the Budget “yuva shakti–driven”, Sitharaman said the government’s policies aim to build capacities among young people and make them strong partners in India’s next phase of economic growth.

She said education, skilling and services-led employment will be key pillars in harnessing India’s demographic dividend and preparing the workforce for technological shifts and global market demands.

Sports and youth development

As part of the youth-focused approach, the Finance Minister said the Khelo India Mission will be strengthened to transform the sports sector over the next decade.

She said the mission will focus on integrated talent development, development of coaches and support staff, integration of sports science, expanded competitions, and creation of sports infrastructure for training.

Poverty reduction and inclusion

The Finance Minister said the movement of nearly 25 crore people out of multidimensional poverty underscores the need to shift towards aspiration-led growth, capacity building and quality employment for a youthful India.

She said the renewed emphasis on education, skills and services will help ensure that yuva shakti plays a central role in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.

(This is a live story that will be updated as new updates emerge)