Union Budget 2026–27 youth-centric, growth-oriented: Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar, Feb 1 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday described the Union Budget 2026–27 as a growth-oriented and inclusive budget with a strong focus on empowering youth and accelerating overall development.

Stating that the budget reflects the Union Government’s commitment to sustained economic growth, Majhi said it ensures that benefits reach all sections of society, particularly the younger generation. He expressed gratitude to the Government of India for announcing several initiatives that would directly benefit Odisha.

The Chief Minister said the budget places special emphasis on skill development across sectors, enabling youth to compete at the global level and contribute meaningfully to nation-building. With enhanced skills and greater opportunities, young people will gain confidence, making the budget truly youth-centric, he added.

Highlighting the broader economic vision, Majhi said the Modi government has undertaken around 350 structural reforms during its tenure, a rare achievement in independent India’s economic history. These reforms, he noted, have significantly accelerated the country’s journey towards becoming a self-reliant and developed nation.

He welcomed the higher allocation for infrastructure development, with public capital expenditure pegged at Rs 12.2 lakh crore, stating that it would further strengthen economic growth and industrial expansion.

Majhi also hailed the announcement of a dedicated Rare Earth Corridor in Odisha for mining, processing, research and capacity building, aimed at reducing import dependence on critical minerals and supporting high-technology sectors such as electronics and renewable energy.

The Chief Minister said Odisha would gain significantly from the East Coast Development Corridor, under which tourism and economic hubs will be developed along the eastern coast. As part of this initiative, five tourism destinations will be developed across eastern states, including Odisha, and 4,000 e-buses will be introduced to strengthen public transport.

He further said twenty new national waterways will be operationalised over the next five years, with National Waterway–5 to be implemented in the first phase. This will connect the mineral-rich Talcher and Angul regions with ports like Paradip and Dhamra, enabling cost-effective cargo movement and easing pressure on road and rail networks.

Majhi said City Economic Regions (CERs) will be developed to promote urban-led growth, with an allocation of Rs 5,000 crore per CER over five years. This will help operationalise the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Paradip–Puri urban corridor through integrated infrastructure and investment.

To promote wildlife tourism and conservation, Turtle Trails will be developed near major turtle nesting sites, including those in Odisha, focusing on eco-friendly tourism.

He also welcomed reforms in MGNREGA under the “Viksit Bharat – Rozgar Guarantee and Livelihood (Rural)” scheme, which increases the statutory employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days per rural household.

For coastal states like Odisha, special schemes for coconut, cashew and sandalwood cultivation under high-value agriculture have been announced. A Coconut Promotion Scheme will replace old, low-yield trees with high-yield varieties to boost farmers’ income and rural employment.

Majhi said Rs 34,300 crore has been earmarked for the mining sector over seven years under the National Critical Mineral Mission to ensure availability of key minerals such as lithium and rare earths.

Expressing confidence in the budget, the Chief Minister called it historic from every perspective and said it would help realise the goal of a prosperous Odisha and a developed India.

Responding to media queries at a press meet in Sonepur, Majhi said the state government is focusing on 16 priority sectors for industrial development, with special emphasis on setting up textile units in cotton-growing districts like Balangir, Kalahandi and Subarnapur.