Union Budget 2026: CM Devendra Fadnavis Welcomes Women-Centric Schemes, Calls All Proposals a 'Powerful Step Towards Viksit Bharat'

By Lokmat Times Desk | Updated: February 1, 2026 15:15 IST2026-02-01T15:13:05+5:302026-02-01T15:15:05+5:30

Following the presentation of the Union Budget 2026 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed ...

Union Budget 2026: CM Devendra Fadnavis Welcomes Women-Centric Schemes, Calls All Proposals a 'Powerful Step Towards Viksit Bharat' | Union Budget 2026: CM Devendra Fadnavis Welcomes Women-Centric Schemes, Calls All Proposals a 'Powerful Step Towards Viksit Bharat'

Union Budget 2026: CM Devendra Fadnavis Welcomes Women-Centric Schemes, Calls All Proposals a 'Powerful Step Towards Viksit Bharat'

Following the presentation of the Union Budget 2026 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed strong approval of the proposals, calling the budget a “powerful step towards Viksit Bharat.” Sharing his views on X (formerly Twitter), Fadnavis stated that the budget had created a solid roadmap for the country’s long-term progress. He noted that the focus on planned urbanisation, encouragement of industry and entrepreneurship, and decisive steps to enhance investment and employment generation would help accelerate India’s overall development and strengthen the economic framework at both national and state levels.

In his post, the Chief Minister drew attention to several initiatives he described as especially significant. Highlighting women-focused measures, Fadnavis said that after the success of the Lakhpati Didi scheme, the proposal to set up dedicated malls and industrial opportunities for women was “extremely important.” He also praised the plan to establish hostels for girls pursuing higher education in every district, stating that this initiative would play a crucial role in improving access to education, supporting female students, and promoting greater participation of women in higher studies and the workforce.

Fadnavis also welcomed the decision to set up emergency medical facilities in district hospitals, noting that the move would greatly strengthen healthcare services at the grassroots level. He said such facilities would help ensure timely treatment and better medical infrastructure across districts. On infrastructure and regional development, the Chief Minister appreciated the proposed Mumbai–Pune and Pune–Hyderabad high-speed corridors, observing that they would contribute to a substantial rise in GDP. Finally, he welcomed the allocation of ₹5,000 crore over five years to each growth hub, benefiting MMR, Pune and Nagpur.

Devendra Fadnavis posted on X, "This budget is a powerful step towards a Developed India. By planned urbanisation, promoting industry and entrepreneurship, and taking firm measures for investment and job creation, this budget has laid a strong foundation. An investment of ₹12 lakh crore in infrastructure, substantial provisions for agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and irrigation have been made. Following the success of the Lakhpati Didi scheme, the plan to create separate malls and industrial opportunities exclusively for women is extremely important. A scheme for hostels for girls pursuing higher education in every district has been announced. The decision to establish emergency medical facilities in district hospitals will prove invaluable for the health sector. The Mumbai-Pune and Pune-Hyderabad high-speed corridors will lead to a significant increase in GDP. Each growth hub will receive ₹5000 crore over the next 5 years, and the benefit of this will go to Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune Metropolitan Region, and Nagpur Metropolitan Growth Hub."

The Union Budget 2026 was announced today by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at 11.00 am in the Parliament. The presentation outlined several major initiatives aimed at driving economic growth and innovation. Key highlights included a massive boost to capital expenditure, the launch of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0, and the introduction of seven high-speed rail corridors to improve connectivity. The budget also announced tax relief on education and travel, along with the unveiling of Bharat Vistar, a multilingual AI tool, among many other schemes and policy measures.

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