Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the Union Budget 2026-27 as a foundational step toward building a developed India.
Speaking at a Media Conference at Hotel Prachi, here he emphasized that the budget aligns with the mantra of inclusive development to fulfill the aspirations of all social sectors. BJP Odisha President Shri Man Mohan Samal was present in the Press Meet.
Shri Pradhan noted that India is now the world’s fourth largest economy and the current budget targets a growth rate between 6.8 percent and 7.2 percent for the 2026-27 fiscal year. He provided comparative data stating that national exports rose 77 percent from 466.22 billion US dollars in 2013-14 to 824.9 billion US dollars under the current administration. Additionally foreign direct investment has more than doubled from 36.05 billion US dollars to 81.04 billion US dollars over the same period.
Key economic indicators mentioned by the Minister include a threefold increase in GDP from 106.57 crore in 2014-15 to 331.03 crore and a rise in forex reserves to 697.9 billion US dollars. GST collections have also seen a significant jump doubling from 11 lakh crore in 2020 to 22 lakh crore.
Looking toward future industries Shri Pradhan mentioned that artificial intelligence is expected to contribute 1.7 trillion dollars by 2035. The budget allocates 40000 crore for the India Semiconductor 2.0 mission and 10000 crore for BioPharma Shakti. To support small businesses a 10000 crore growth fund for the MSME sector has been established.
For the state of Odisha the Minister highlighted specific projects such as the development of National Waterway 5 and the Rare Earth Corridor which are expected to elevate the state’s industrial and mineral infrastructure. He also pointed out that the East Coast Development Corridor will create extensive employment opportunities in the industrial sector. Education and tourism are also set for growth with plans for AVGC labs in schools and colleges and the development of the Turtle Trails project at sites like Gahirmatha.