The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi [India], February 1: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has strongly criticised the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it “completely insipid.”
In a post on X, Ramesh highlighted several shortcomings in the budget, including a lack of transparency. He noted that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not provide clarity on allocations for key programs during her speech.
“Although the documents still need to be studied in detail, it became clear just 90 minutes later that, compared to the heavy atmosphere built around the 2026-27 budget, it fell far short. It turned out to be completely insipid. The speech was not transparent either, as it provided no clear information regarding budget allocations for major programs and schemes,” Ramesh wrote.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget in the Lok Sabha on Sunday. The budget, she said, is driven by “Yuvashakti” and based on “three kartavyas.” Key proposals include seven high-speed rail corridors, new dedicated freight corridors, and the operationalisation of 20 national waterways over the next five years.
The high-speed rail corridors aim to provide environmentally sustainable passenger transport, linking major urban and economic hubs across India. Proposed routes include Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri. These corridors are intended to reduce travel time, lower emissions, and support regional economic development.
The budget also emphasised eco-tourism and nature-based travel. The Finance Minister said, “India has the potential and opportunity to offer world-class trekking and hiking experiences.” Plans include developing sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, as well as in Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Pudigai Malai in the Western Ghats.
