Union Budget 2026: Sitharaman proposes one girls’ hostel per district

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Union Budget 2026-27, proposed that the government will set up one girls’ hostel in every district of the country to improve access to education and create safer living options for students.

Sitharaman said the initiative is aimed at supporting girls from rural and semi-urban areas who often have to travel or migrate to pursue higher education and skill training due to the lack of local facilities.

The hostels will form part of the government’s broader push to strengthen social infrastructure, alongside investments in education, skilling and women-led development.


The move seeks to address persistent challenges such as dropout rates among adolescent girls, particularly in districts where distance, safety concerns and affordability act as barriers to continued education.