The recently released Union Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday, purposefully shunned short-term populism and instead directed record capital outlays into infrastructure to create jobs and sustain growth, calling constructive expenditure a hallmark of his government.
Modi said in an exclusive interview with PTI that his government has filled “structural gaps left behind by prior administrations” during its years in power, undertaken daring reforms, and established the groundwork for a developed India. The most recent Budget, he claimed, represents the “next phase” of that journey.
Modi claimed that the budget “is a good reflection of our governing style and priorities” and that it reflected his approach to governance for the fiscal year beginning April 1.
“This Budget gives our ‘Reform Express’ impetus and marks the next stage of this journey. “Its goal is to quicken the pace and get our young people ready for the opportunities of a world that is changing quickly,” the prime minister told PTI.
Citing the pre-Budget Economic Survey, he said that the combination of labor formalization, capital accumulation, and digital public infrastructure had increased India’s potential growth rate to 7%.
“Our administration has been known for its efficient expenditures. He stated in the written interview with PTI that “the large capital expenditure shows our focus on infrastructure and capital investment, which are strong engines for long-term growth.”
The FY27 Budget significantly increases capital expenditure to Rs 12.2 lakh crore, which is five times more than in 2013. This is in line with the Modi government’s goal of prioritizing the development of infrastructure, the expansion of logistics, and investments in the sunrise sectors in order to spur long-term growth.
In addition to measures to facilitate compliance and enhance credit flow, it emphasizes spending on rail, roads, digital, and energy infrastructure as the primary lever for job creation and economic momentum. “This reflects a conscious strategic choice to invest in assets that create productivity, jobs, and future economic capacity rather than short-term populism,” the statement continues. This demonstrates that we are committed to raising people’s standard of living, giving our young people work, and accelerating the country’s development toward Viksit Bharat,” Modi stated.
According to the prime minister, there has been a long-standing disregard for high-quality infrastructure, which has presented difficulties for Indian enterprises and citizens.
“A country that aspires to develop a Viksit Bharat cannot have broken and antiquated infrastructure,” he stated. As a result, our speed, scalability, and emphasis on developing next-generation infrastructure while enhancing the current infrastructure transformed the industry.
Perhaps the largest infrastructure-building endeavor in India’s history has taken place in the last ten or so years, with an unparalleled focus on quality! The way we have built infrastructure with the future in mind has been the most significant component of this.
According to him, the number of cities with metro services has more than quadrupled, the number of airports has doubled as orders for thousands of aircraft have been placed, rural roads and internet connectivity are growing quickly, and investments have been made in the revolutionary expansion of ports, freight corridors, and coastal connectivity.
Regarding sectoral allocations, he stated that Indian Railways has received a capital investment of about Rs 3 lakh crore, with a focus on passenger safety, freight capacity, and high-speed connectivity. Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry will all greatly benefit from the proposed South High-Speed Diamond corridor, one of seven new high-speed rail tracks that would link important Indian cities.
Concurrently, dedicated freight corridors are being extended to free up passenger routes and lower industry logistics expenses. Compared to ten years ago, national highway allocations have surged by over 500 percent.
Modi emphasized the investments being made in sunrise industries, such as biopharma, semiconductors, electronics component manufacturing, rare earth corridors, and chemical parks. “These will enhance India’s future and give jobs and investment a new boost.”
“A significant aspect of this budget has been our ongoing emphasis on trust-based governance,” the prime minister stated, highlighting governance changes. We are drastically cutting down on paperwork, decriminalizing offenses, and lowering compliance standards across all sectors, ministries, and procedures. This is due to our faith in the people and our vision of the state as a facilitator.
Compared to the figures in regular budgets, this will have a much greater effect on people’s lives. With nation-building and economic growth as its guiding tenets, Modi said that his government has created “an inclusive, tech-driven yet human-centric welfare infrastructure that reaches the last mile and leaves no one behind.”
Modi claimed that the sense of urgency had now turned into a “national conviction,” recalling his cry from the Red Fort, “Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai” (now is the time, the right moment).
“We have always had the ‘now is the moment’ sense of purpose you are referring to. But now, that sense of urgency has evolved into a national conviction and a resolve shared by the entire society,” he remarked.
“The post-pandemic world order we live in is creating new opportunities for India; nations are keen to collaborate with us in innovation and trade, Modi spoke about India’s position in a changing global order, saying, “We have a young and more talented population; and we are focusing on robust growth accompanied by low inflation and macroeconomic stability.”
In his long-term perspective, he stated that the budget should not be viewed as simply Budget 2026. In the second part of the twenty-first century, this is the first budget.
In order to provide momentum for the upcoming 25 years, this budget builds on the progress established since 2014. “The decisions we are taking today are establishing the foundation for Viksit Bharat by 2047, just as the decisions and efforts taken in the 1920s laid the platform for independence in 1947,” he continued.
PM praises Budget 2026 as a “we are ready” moment rather than a “now or never” moment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Sunday that this year’s budget shows India’s “yearning” to become a developed country and was not a “now or never moment” born out of pressure but rather a “we are ready” moment born out of inspiration and preparedness.
Modi claimed in an exclusive interview with PTI that “that is not our approach” and that no budget of his government has been prepared with the intention of producing standard “bahi khata” documents.
Recalling that he had proclaimed “Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai” from the Red Fort’s ramparts a few years prior, Modi claimed that his government has always had a “now is the time” mentality.
However, that sense of urgency has now spread throughout the country and the entire society. “Our national spirit has showed itself even in times of different sorts of adversities and we are a bright light of progress even in terrible global circumstances,” he said, adding that there is a new confidence in our country.
Modi responded that the post-pandemic world order is creating new opportunities for India, with nations keen to collaborate with it in trade and innovation, when asked if he has decided that India is now prepared to begin the next stage of development toward a moonshot for Viksit Bharat by 2047 and if it is a now-or-never situation.
Our population is youthful and becoming more talented, and we are concentrating on robust growth, low inflation, and macroeconomic stability. Our young people are making waves in a variety of industries, including business, sports, and space. The prime minister stated, “And because of these changes, people are seeing this as a historic chance for India. We have ensured political stability and a reform-oriented policy environment.” In a written interview, he stated, “The country also saw the historic Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, which gave the people a feeling of mission, even as these developments were gaining steam.”
Modi spoke to the changes in behavior that have occurred over the past several years, saying that whether the problem is one of cleanliness or something else entirely, people understand that creating a developed country involves more than just economics and infrastructure; it also involves social customs.
Therefore, this is not a “now or never” situation that comes from coercion. It is a “we are ready” moment that results from inspiration and planning. Modi stated, “This Budget shows this desire to become a developed nation.”
Therefore, he argued, this budget should be viewed as the first budget in the second quarter of the twenty-first century rather than just as Budget 2026.
In order to provide momentum for the next 25 years, this budget builds on the progress that has been done since 2014. “The choices we are making today are establishing the platform for Viksit Bharat by 2047, just as the choices and actions made in the 1920s established the foundation for Independence in 1947,” he said.
Modi claimed that his government has never created a budget with the intention of producing standard “bahi khata” documents since that is not how we do things. I have been the head of government for 25 years, first at the state level and now at the federal level, and I consider it a privilege that people have blessed me for a long period.
It is evident from a closer examination of my methodology over the past 25 years that our work is not incremental.A more comprehensive approach, a plan of action, and successful execution that embodies the “whole of the nation” mentality, continuity of purpose, and a long-term vision are gradually coming to fruition year after year, Modi stated.
He claimed that since 2014, the country has learned to see the budget as much more than a list of figures, facts, or impromptu declarations.
According to Modi, every budget has included a clear plan, a series of activities, and an intent along with deadlines for completing them. After that, we concentrate on implementation, and the following budget takes it to the next logical stage, he stated.
Over the years, we have implemented daring fundamental reforms, filled in the structural gaps left by previous administrations,
“Alongside this, we deployed an inclusive, tech-driven, yet human-centric welfare architecture that reaches the last mile and leaves no one behind,” Modi said, adding that the government had increased opportunities for the poor, empowered our youth, strengthened the role of women, and guaranteed dignity and security for our farmers.
The prime minister stated that nation-building, economic growth, and the establishment of Viksit Bharat have been the main priorities at every turn. “This Budget represents the next phase in this journey, imparting momentum to our ‘Reform Express.'” Its goal is to quicken the pace and get our young people ready for the opportunities of a world that is changing quickly,” he stated.
