BJP leader V Muraleedharan stated on Sunday that the Union Budget 2026 aims to build a Viksit Bharat, focusing particularly on youth, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and schemes designed to benefit multiple states across India.
Speaking to ANI, Muraleedharan said, “This budget is aimed at the creation of Viksit Bharat. The focus is on youth and the various efforts that will benefit them. New technologies, including AI, have received significant focus. And there are schemes that will benefit by crossing state borders. For example, tourism will benefit Kerala.”
He added, “Coconut farming will benefit Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Cashew will benefit Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. So all these will benefit not a particular state, but a region of the whole country.”
Muraleedharan highlighted initiatives in sectors such as tourism, coconut and cashew farming, and Ayurveda. He noted that while individual states are not repeatedly named, all regions, including Kerala, will gain from the nationwide development agenda.
“Ayurveda has been given a lot of focus in this budget. Ayurveda will benefit Kerala and other states. A particular state’s name isn’t mentioned every minute, but that doesn’t mean the state doesn’t receive due recognition. The central budget is for the whole country; it’s for the development of the whole nation and for every section of society, and Kerala will definitely benefit from that,” he said.
During her speech presenting the Union Budget, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a series of transformative measures to position India as a global hub for Medical Value Tourism (MVT) and to strengthen the AYUSH ecosystem. The focus will be on quality, research, employment generation and global outreach, according to a press release from AYUSH.
To promote India as a preferred destination for medical tourism, the Government plans to support states in establishing five Regional Medical Hubs in partnership with the private sector. These hubs will operate as integrated healthcare complexes, combining medical services, education and research facilities under one umbrella.
The proposed Medical Hubs will include AYUSH Centres, Medical Value Tourism Facilitation Centres, and advanced infrastructure for diagnostics, post-treatment care and rehabilitation. These hubs are expected to enhance the patient experience for both international and domestic visitors and generate diverse employment opportunities for healthcare professionals, including doctors and allied health professionals.
The Finance Minister highlighted India’s leadership in traditional medicine, noting that Yoga gained global recognition after being presented to the United Nations by the Prime Minister, while Ayurveda has seen renewed global acceptance in the post-COVID period. The rising international demand for AYUSH products is also benefiting farmers cultivating medicinal plants and youth involved in processing and value addition.