Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Artificial Intelligence i.e. AI is likely to get special importance in the Budget 2026-27. The government is preparing a long-term strategy to support this emerging sector. The Finance Ministry is working with other ministries to decide policy directions and funding priorities. This includes electronics and IT, education, defense, science and space departments. The Centre believes that AI is not just an industry but a medium to strengthen productivity, industrial development and digital infrastructure.
According to a Mint report, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may make several announcements related to AI on 1 February 2026. This may include program-level measures and increased budget allocations across different ministries. Robotics, dip-tech research, advanced innovation ecosystem, quantum computing and deepfake safeguards can also be included in the budget. The government's objective is to promote new technologies and strengthen India's development strategy in the long term.
India's Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund is the main part of this scheme. The total allocation of this fund has been kept at Rs 1 lakh crore in six years till 2031. Rs 20,000 crore have been set aside as the first tranche for the financial year 2026. The allocation of this fund may increase next year, especially in space technology, space exploration and space-based surveillance. Quantum technology is also being given prominence in long-term planning.
In the budget for the financial year 2025-26, Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for the India AI Mission and Rs 500 crore for the new AI Centre of Excellence. Apart from this, five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling, 80 India AI Labs and 20 AI curation units are also planned. Also, 'Deep Tech Fund of Funds' has been created for startups and new technologies. An allocation of 6,003 million rupees has been made in the National Quantum Mission for quantum technology, which will be implemented from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
With these initiatives, AI and new technologies will directly impact employment, skilling and digital infrastructure. Long-term planning will increase productivity, strengthen industrial competition and create new job opportunities. Opportunities for startups and tech investors will also increase. This step will help India to become a 7 trillion dollar economy by 2030.
