02/02/2026
The Union Budget 2026–27, presented on 1 February by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has once again placed agriculture at the centre of the government’s long-term growth narrative. With an allocation of ₹1.63 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sectors — a roughly 7 per cent increase over the previous year, the budget emphasizes diversification, technology adoption and expansion of allied activities such as livestock and fisheries.
However, farmers’ groups, agricultural economists and opposition leaders argue that the budget prioritises future-facing reforms while leaving unresolved the sector’s most pressing concerns: income security, price assurance, crop insurance and debt relief. On the ground, many see Budget 2026 as a continuation of incremental policy shifts rather than a decisive response to an agrarian economy under stress.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India Indian Council of Agricultural Research
New Delhi, 02 Feb 2026 | Nirmesh Singh: The Union Budget 2026–27, presented on 1 February by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has once again placed agriculture […]