'Merit must have a home': When a father’s pain pushed FM Sitharaman to prioritise girls’ hostels in Budget 2026

Education Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said a personal experience inspired the Union Budget 2026–27’s focus on expanding girls’ hostels, stressing that “merit must have a home”. The budget allocates Rs 1.39 lakh crore to education, with major increases for higher education and digital learning infrastructure, aimed at empowering young people and women.