Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs, Kriti Vardhan Singh, on Monday outlined broad development priorities under the Union Budget 2026–27 during a press conference in Kohima, highlighting employment prospects for the Northeast across multiple sectors but without announcing any specific allocations or projects exclusively for Nagaland.
Singh said tourism, eco-tourism, agro-forestry, organic farming and high-value agriculture had been identified as major employment drivers in the Northeast, adding that the Budget seeks to create livelihood opportunities rooted in local resources and regional strengths.
Referring to Nagaland, he highlighted initiatives such as training tourist guides, developing eco-friendly mountain and bird-watching trails, promoting homestays and supporting women-led self-help groups through market linkages and e-commerce platforms. He also pointed to what he described as strong community resilience in the state.
Singh also spoke on what he termed people-centric measures aimed at the middle class, including simplified tax compliance, reduced tax collected at source rates for education and medical purposes, customs duty exemptions on essential medicines and steps to reduce litigation and decriminalize minor offences.
Addressing employment and skilling, he said the Budget proposes initiatives to bridge education and employment gaps, expand skilling infrastructure and establish new institutions in hospitality, design, creative technologies and allied health sciences. Support for MSMEs was highlighted through a proposed Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, enhanced credit mechanisms and reforms aimed at improving liquidity and faster payments.
Outlining the three pillars of the Budget-accelerating economic growth, fulfilling aspirations and ensuring inclusive development- Singh said the objective was to ensure that economic growth reaches villages and rural areas and is not confined to metropolitan Centre’s. He added that India’s young population remains a key driver of national progress.
On global economic engagement, the Minister said Free Trade Agreements form a cornerstone of India’s development strategy and highlighted the country’s expanding trade partnerships with multiple nations. He referred to tariff negotiations with the United States and said India’s tariff rates remain competitive compared to several Southeast Asian economies.
The press conference was held at the BJP state office in Kohima in the presence of Minister for Tourism and Higher Education Temjen Imna Along, Advisor Kropol Vitsu and other party leaders.
Concluding, Singh said the Union Budget 2026–27 lays the foundation for “Viksit Bharat @2047,” adding that every region, including the Northeast, would benefit from growth, opportunities and sustainable development.
