Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in the Budget
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underscored investment as the third engine of growth, focusing on people, the economy, and innovation. To support people, the government is strengthening the Sashakt Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programs, which provide nutrition to over 8 crore children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and around 20 lakh adolescent girls in aspirational districts and the Northeast. The cost norms for these programs will be increased to improve their impact.
As part of investing in people, the Union Budget 2025-26 proposes to enhance the cost norms for nutritional support under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programme. The programme provides nutritional support to more than 8 crore children, 1 crore pregnant women and lactating mothers all over the country, and about 20 lakh adolescent girls in aspirational districts and the northeast region.
The Union Finance Minister, in her Budget Speech, announced to facilitate the setting up of Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals in the next 3 years. 200 Centres will be established in 2025-26. The Budget also highlights that in the next year, 10,000 additional seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals, towards the goal of adding 75,000 seats in the next 5 years.
The Finance Minister informed that Medical Tourism and health in India will be promoted in partnership with the private sector along with capacity building and easier visa norms.