Describing the Union Budget 2026–27 as a long-term roadmap for achieving Viksit Bharat 2047, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said the Budget is anchored on the pillars of productivity, resilience and inclusivity, with Andhra Pradesh poised to emerge as a key driver of India’s Blue Economy mission.
Addressing media representatives and social media influencers here, the Minister said that although the Budget is presented for the financial year 2026–27, it outlines a strategic economic vision for the next 25 years. At a time of global economic uncertainty, he noted, India has opted for stability, policy clarity and sustained investment-led growth.
Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on the Blue Economy as a national priority, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Budget places fisheries, marine exports, coastal infrastructure and ocean-based economic activities at the heart of the development strategy. Measures such as permitting deep-sea fishing in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone and treating fish landings at foreign ports as exports are expected to significantly boost fishermen’s incomes and enhance India’s export competitiveness.
With its extensive coastline and strong aquaculture base, Andhra Pradesh is set to gain substantially from the modernisation of coastal fisheries infrastructure, reservoir development, cold chain networks and processing facilities, he said. These initiatives will help create an integrated marine economy linking livelihoods, logistics, exports and value addition.
The Minister also pointed to major infrastructure and industrial initiatives benefiting the State, including continued support for the Polavaram irrigation project, capital investment for Amaravati, and the proposed Rare Earth and Critical Minerals Corridor. These, he said, would position Andhra Pradesh at the forefront of next-generation manufacturing, renewable energy components and advanced materials.
Dr Jitendra Singh added that agriculture, MSMEs, high-value plantation crops and women-led Self-Help Groups remain central to the Budget’s inclusive growth agenda. He concluded that the Union Budget 2026–27 sets India firmly on the path to becoming a globally competitive, export-driven and innovation-led economy, with Andhra Pradesh playing a pivotal role in the nation’s growth journey.
