Union Budget 2026: Five university townships, girls’ hostels in every district announced

The Union Budget for 2026-27 sharpened its focus on education-led development and social infrastructure, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposing the setting up of five university townships near major industrial and logistics hubs across the country.

Presenting the Budget in the Lok Sabha on Sunday, Sitharaman said the move is aimed at creating strong education–industry linkages and nurturing skilled talent in emerging growth corridors.

In a major push for women’s education and safety, the government will also establish one girls’ hostel in every district of the country. India currently has more than 700 districts.


The Budget further proposes support for the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, to set up content labs in 15,000 secondary schools, a step aimed at strengthening creative, digital and media-related skills among students at the school level.

Together, the measures underline the government’s intent to align education infrastructure with industrial growth while expanding access and opportunities for women and young learners. (With inputs from PTI)