As part of investing in people, the Union Budget 2025-26 proposes to enhance cost norms for nutritional support under the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programme, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Saturday.
This programme provides nutritional support to more than 8 crore children, 1 crore pregnant women and lactating mothers across the country, and about 20 lakh adolescent girls in aspirational districts and the Northeast region.
While presenting the Union Budget 2025-26, Sitharaman said, “Investment is the third engine of development, encompassing investing in people, investing in the economy, and investing in innovation.”
Sitharaman also announced plans to facilitate the establishment of Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals over the next three years, with 200 centres to be set up in 2025-26.
The Budget further highlights that 10,000 additional seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals in the next year, contributing to the goal of adding 75,000 seats over the next five years.
“Medical tourism and the ‘Heal in India’ initiative will be promoted in partnership with the private sector, along with capacity building and easier visa norms,” Sitharaman said.
To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, rare diseases, and other severe chronic illnesses, the Union Finance Minister proposed adding 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list of those fully exempted from Basic Customs Duty (BCD).
Additionally, six lifesaving medicines will be added to the list attracting a concessional customs duty of 5%. Full exemption and concessional duty will also apply, respectively, to bulk drugs used for manufacturing these medicines.
The Budget also specifies that drugs and medicines supplied under Patient Assistance Programmes run by pharmaceutical companies will be fully exempt from BCD, provided they are distributed free of cost to patients. It proposes adding 37 more medicines and introducing 13 new patient assistance programmes.
