Bhubaneswar, Feb 7: Odisha is among the major beneficiaries that has amassed stupendous focus in the Budget 2026-27, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday.

Underlining Modi’s vision for a new Odisha Pradhan said, with the meticulous provision, Odisha can craft out substantial growth in infrastructure, technology, and welfare schemes converging to transform the state’s brighter future.

The Minister said the Budget projects a growth rate of 6.8–7.2 percent for 2026–27, with inflation under control and GST collections doubling to Rs22 lakh crore. He underlined initiatives such as BioPharma Shakti with an outlay of Rs10,000 crore, India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 worth Rs40,000 crore, and a Rs10,000 crore MSME Growth Fund. Education and employment are central themes, with the Education to Employment (E2E) framework, AVGC labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges, and district-level hostels for girls in STEM education.

Tourism initiatives such as “Turtle Trails” along Odisha’s coastline and the establishment of a National Institute of Hospitality will boost employment and global visibility. Pradhan said the Budget demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring that “the fruits of development reach the last person in society.”

Pradhan described the Union Budget 2026–27 as “youth‑centric” and a “robust foundation for a developed India.”

While interacting with pressers in Bhubaneswar today, Pradhan said the recent Unio Budget reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive growth through “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.”

Pradhan highlighted India’s economic rise, saying the nation as the world’s fourth-largest economy with a GDP of $4.18 trillion. He pointed out that foreign direct investment, that has more than doubled from $36 billion in 2013–14 to $81 billion in 2024–25, while exports have grown by 77 percent in the same period.

Pradhan further said, India’s start-up ecosystem has expanded from 500 ventures in 2016 to nearly 200,000 today, making it the third-largest globally.

State BJP president Manmohan Samal was also present on the occasion, who hailed PM’s noble venture in dedicating a sizeable provision of the Union Budget for Odisha & its people.