In the quiet town of Sitamarhi, anticipation is building as India’s Parliament gears up for the 2026 Union Budget session. Ordinary citizens, educators, and economists are pinning their hopes on measures to tame soaring inflation, boost education and healthcare, create jobs, and ease the burden on the middle class.
Local resident Anand Kumar voiced a common sentiment, emphasizing that this budget must prioritize the middle class. ‘The government needs to focus more on health, education, and basic amenities so that common people see direct benefits,’ he said.
Promila Devi echoed the urgency, her excitement palpable amid widespread economic pressures. ‘We’ve been waiting eagerly to see what special announcements come this time. Inflation is hitting us hard everywhere. We hope this budget brings some relief, especially for essential services that ordinary folks rely on.’
Professor Dr. Aparna Kumari, speaking on higher education, called for regularized teacher salaries and an increased standard deduction limit on taxes. She advocated expanding tax exemptions to provide relief to middle-class educators. ‘The government should ramp up resources for higher education, including funding for academic journals and college infrastructure, just like before,’ she added.
Economist Professor Prabhat Kumar expressed optimism that the budget would address all societal segments. He highlighted the government’s earlier promise to allocate 6% of GDP to the New Education Policy 2020, hoping for fulfillment this time. Kumar also stressed integrating new technologies in agriculture to enhance production and productivity, alongside concrete steps to combat rising unemployment.
As the budget session unfolds, Sitamarhi’s residents are united in their expectation for policies that deliver tangible relief and foster inclusive growth across the nation.