Union Budget 2025: Rs 500 Crore AI Research Plan, 200 Cancer Care Centres, And Gig Worker Benefits Announced

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Union Budget 2025, highlighted Investment in People and Innovation as the third key engine of economic growth, focusing on education, healthcare, technology, and infrastructure.

Investing in People: Education, Nutrition & Skilling

The government will enhance cost norms for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, which provides nutritional support to over 8 crore children, 1 crore pregnant women and mothers, and 20 lakh adolescent girls.

To boost education and innovation, 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will be established in government schools over the next five years, and broadband connectivity will be extended to all government secondary schools and primary health centers in rural areas.

The Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme will promote Indian language books in schools and higher education.

To strengthen skilling, five National Centres of Excellence will be set up with global expertise. IITs will expand further, with infrastructure enhancements at five IITs started post-2014 and IIT Patna, benefiting 6,500 students.

Innovation and Healthcare Boost

The budget provides for 10,000 additional medical college seats, 200 Day Cancer Care Centers, and three AI research centers with a Rs 500 crore outlay. A social security scheme for gig and platform workers will offer e-Shram registration, ID cards, and healthcare under PM Jan Arogya Yojana, benefiting 1 crore workers.

Infrastructure and Energy Investments

The Jal Jeevan Mission will be extended till 2028, with Rs 1.5 lakh crore capital expenditure for state governments, including Rs 1.5 lakh crore in interest-free loans.

Additionally, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act will enable the development of five indigenous small nuclear reactors by 2033.