Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Sunday criticised the Union Budget 2026-27, alleging it fails to tackle major economic challenges, offers no relief to vulnerable groups, and provides no solution for youth unemployment.
Kharge asserted that the budget lacks innovative ideas and does not present concrete measures to address inflation, unemployment, declining savings, and increasing inequality. Reacting to the budget presented by the Modi government, he said, “The Modi government has run out of new ideas. This budget raises more questions than it answers regarding India’s significant economic, social, and political challenges. It offers nothing for the poor. They have not presented any solution, positive suggestion, or concrete steps to control inflation.”
He also criticised the government’s disregard for weakening domestic demand, stating, “The Economic Survey indicates that trade uncertainty is a major challenge for India, yet the budget barely acknowledges this problem. Similarly, they have no plan to address the falling value of the rupee… The budget shows no intention of reviving consumer demand. The decline in domestic savings and the increasing burden of personal debt have also been ignored… there is no solution to the widespread unemployment crisis among educated youth. The Finance Commission’s recommendations require further study, but they do not appear to provide any relief to state governments facing serious financial constraints.”
On inequality, Kharge claimed that disparities in wealth and income have worsened, stating, “Inequality has surpassed the levels seen during the British Raj. But the budget doesn’t even mention it. Nor have they made any provision for assistance for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, or minorities…”
Earlier on Sunday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha, her ninth consecutive Union Budget. She emphasised that the budget is driven by “Yuvashakti” and based on “three kartavyas.”
The Finance Minister proposed the development of seven high-speed rail corridors, new dedicated freight corridors, and the operationalisation of 20 national waterways over the next five years as part of an environmentally sustainable passenger transport initiative.
The proposed rail corridors include Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri. They aim to link financial hubs, technology centres, manufacturing clusters, and emerging cities through faster and cleaner mobility.
“In order to promote environmentally sustainable passenger systems, we will develop seven high-speed rail corridors between cities as growth connectors, namely Mumbai to Pune, Pune to Hyderabad, Hyderabad to Bengaluru, Hyderabad to Chennai, and Chennai to Bengaluru. Delhi to Varanasi, Varanasi to Siliguri,” the Finance Minister said.
Additionally, the budget highlighted eco-tourism and nature-based travel. Sitharaman stated, “India has the potential and opportunity to offer world-class trekking and hiking experience.” Plans include the development of sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, the Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats, and Pudigai Malai in the Western Ghats.