India Budget Promises Face Implementation Challenges

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the 2026-27 Union Budget, increasing infrastructure allocation nine percent to Rs 12.2 lakh crore but revised estimates show current-year spending trails targets by roughly Rs 30,000 crore. The columnist warns that bureaucratic capacity gaps, underutilised scheme funds, and weak R&D commercialization risk turning outlays for semiconductors, biopharma and AI into unmet promises, calling for stronger monitoring and mid-year reviews.