New Delhi: The Union Budget 2026–27 triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties across the country. Presented on a Sunday for the first time since Independence, the Budget came at a time when the nation is closely watching India’s evolving fiscal trajectory. However, the 90-minute Budget speech drew criticism from several opposition leaders, who termed it underwhelming and disconnected from ground realities.
Speech draws sharp criticisms
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh strongly criticised the Budget, calling it “woefully short of the hype.” In a post on X, he said the speech lacked clarity and transparency, adding that it failed to provide details on budgetary allocations for key schemes and programmes. “While the documents need to be studied in detail, it is clear that Budget 2026–27 falls woefully short of the hype generated around it,” he wrote.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he was “shocked” by the absence of any reference to Kerala in infrastructure-related announcements. He pointed out that while cities such as Patna and Varanasi were mentioned across sectors, Kerala—described by the Centre as a significant part of India—was overlooked.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the Budget as being out of touch with the poor. “This Budget is beyond the understanding of the poor. How will you build a developed India without education?” he asked.
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy also dismissed the Budget, alleging it lacked fresh initiatives. “Only old schemes were repeated. No state got anything special, especially West Bengal,” he said.
Key takeaways
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, outlined a growth-oriented roadmap, announcing a record capital expenditure outlay of around Rs 12.2 lakh crore to boost infrastructure, logistics, and employment. The Budget focused on strengthening domestic manufacturing, supporting MSMEs, improving credit access, and expanding high-speed rail corridors and sustainable connectivity, while maintaining fiscal discipline in a challenging global environment.