The Union Finance Minister announced that for the year 2026-27, the total revenue excluding borrowings is estimated at ₹36,51,547 crore, total expenditure at ₹53,47,315 crore, and the fiscal deficit at 4.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The question now is how far this budget goes towards achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. India ranked 99th out of 167 countries in 2025 with an overall score of 67.0 in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In India, NITI Aayog leads the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda in the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism. The Ministry of Finance of the Government of India allocates funds to various ministries for schemes and programs that impact the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in its Union Budget. Let’s examine how much funding has been proposed in this budget towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
1. No Poverty: Allocations include ₹2,27,429 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (free food grains for eligible poor families) for food security, ₹3,000 crore for PMAY-Urban 2.0 to provide pucca houses to low-income families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and ~₹95,692 crore for the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee to guarantee livelihoods.
2. Zero Hunger: In the 2025 Global Hunger Index, India ranked 102nd out of 123 countries, indicating a serious level of hunger. Budgetary allocations for food subsidies include approximately ₹1.63 lakh crore for the agriculture sector in the 2026–27 financial year, increasing Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan limits from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh with subsidized interest, and launching AI-based platforms (Bharat Vistar) to provide real-time advice to farmers on weather, soil health, and cropping patterns to enhance productivity.
3. Good Health and Well-being: The 2026–27 Union Budget increased the allocation for the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to ₹1,05,530.42 crore, a ~9-10% increase from the previous year. Key measures focus on expanding primary care (NHM ₹39,390 crore), AIIMS (PMSSY ₹11,307 crore), increasing medical research by 24% to ₹4,821 crore, and developing digital health infrastructure.
4. Quality Education: The 2026-27 Union Budget marks a historic milestone for India’s education sector, positioning “Yuva Shakti” (youth power) as the driving force behind the nation’s “Viksit Bharat” vision. By allocating a record-breaking ₹1.39 crore, a significant increase of 14.22% compared to last year’s budget, this will improve the quality of education and the education delivery system.
5. Gender Equality: The 2026–27 Union Budget provides a significant boost to gender-responsive budgeting. The share of the gender budget in the total Union Budget has increased to 9.37 percent in the financial year 2026–27. The allocation of ₹5.00 lakh crore for the welfare of women and girls reflects the government’s continued focus on ensuring health, nutrition, education, livelihoods, and safety.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation: For this goal, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has been allocated approximately ₹67,670 crore in the 2026-27 budget estimates. However, sanitation & urban water infrastructure, Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U) has seen its allocation reduced to approximately ₹2,500 crore in 2026-27. The AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) program has also been reduced compared to previous estimates (approximately ₹8,000 crore). Under the Namami Gange Mission-II, which supports river cleaning and related sanitation/water quality measures, the budget has provided approximately ₹3,100 crore for 2026-27.
7. Affordable Clean Energy: The budget allocation for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the financial year 2026-27 is approximately ₹32,914.7 crore. The Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana (Rooftop Solar) to promote clean energy adoption and decentralized generation in households has been increased to approximately ₹22,000 crore in 2026-27. The Ministry of Power has also been allocated over ₹29,900 crore, with significant emphasis on transmission upgrades and smart metering.
8. Good Jobs, Economic Growth: To accelerate infrastructure-led growth, create jobs, and strengthen MSMEs, which are major contributors to employment and growth, a ₹10,000 crore Growth Fund has been introduced. ₹2,000 crore has been allocated to the Self-Reliant India Fund, and the budget has increased the allocation for the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship to ₹9,886 crore to improve workforce readiness.
9. Industry Innovation and Infrastructure: To strengthen infrastructure, logistics, and connectivity across the country, government capital expenditure will be increased to ₹12.2 lakh crore. There is a major focus on advanced manufacturing with ₹40,000 crore to expand domestic electronics manufacturing and supply chains. A BioPharma Power Program with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years has been designed to secure India’s growth in the biopharmaceutical high-tech industry, along with the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 (₹1,000 crore).
10. Reduction of Inequalities: The budget increased social sector spending to approximately ₹2.60 lakh crore, representing a ~12.7% increase to support inclusive services for marginalized groups, with ₹28,183 crore allocated to women and child development, and the gender budget share increasing to 9.37%. The Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana (₹200 crore) and Divyang Sahara Yojana (₹100 crore) were introduced to enhance the skills and economic participation of persons with disabilities. The budget’s higher social and gender-responsive spending indicates a focus on reducing disparities across population groups.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: In the 2026–27 Union Budget, a fund of ₹5,000 crore was allocated over five years to develop City Economic Regions (CERs) in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, aiming for balanced urban growth and sustainable cities and communities by enhancing infrastructure, basic services, and economic capacity in smaller urban centers. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs was allocated ₹85,522.39 crore for urban development programs, although some major urban schemes like the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban received less funding (₹2,500 crore) compared to previous years. The budget also provides ₹500 crore for schemes like the PM-eBus service to promote cleaner urban mobility.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production: In India’s Union Budget 2026–27, ₹3,759.46 crore was allocated to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in relation to responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). A new ₹20,000 crore multi-year incentive for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies is projected to be approximately ₹500 crore in 2026-27. Although India did not present a consolidated SDG 12 line item in the 2026-27 budget documents, these target allocations indicate a gradual shift towards sustainable consumption, production efficiency, and reduced environmental impact in key sectors.
13. Climate Action: A major policy incentive in the 2026–27 Union Budget is the ₹20,000 crore expenditure over five years for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) to help in decarbonization, with an initial allocation of approximately ₹500 crore in 2026-27 for this initiative. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change receives ₹32,915 crore, with specific grants such as ₹600 crore for the National Green Hydrogen Mission and ₹1,091 crore for the Clean Air Programme.
14. Life Below Water: In the 2026–27 Union Budget, the government proposed an unprecedented annual allocation of ₹2,761.80 crore for “Life Below Water” (SDG 14), including marine ecosystems, fisheries sustainability, and aquatic biodiversity, with ₹2,530 crore allocated for schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. While these allocations focus on the economic value and livelihoods associated with marine resources, the budget did not separately specify direct independent funding for broader underwater life conservation.
15. Life on Land: In the 2026–27 Union Budget, the government’s support for “Life on Land,” encompassing forests, biodiversity, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem protection, is reflected through allocations under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), amounting to ₹3,759.46 crore for the year 2026–27. Funding for pollution control programs increases to ₹1,091 crore. The National Mission for a Green India has been allocated approximately ₹212.5 crore. Wildlife conservation through Project Tiger and Project Elephant is supported with an allocation of approximately ₹290 crore.
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: In the 2026–27 Union Budget, allocations linked to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) focused on law enforcement, justice delivery, and strengthening institutional capacity, with ₹4,509 crore allocated to the Ministry of Law and Justice, ₹1,200 crore for digitizing the judiciary, and ₹1.73 lakh crore prioritized for strengthening internal security and policing functions, while continuing necessary investment in access to justice and institutional digitalization.
17. Partnerships for the Goals: In the 2026–27 Union Budget, funding for “Partnerships for the Goals” (SDG 17), supporting international cooperation, global partnerships, and development assistance, primarily allocated ₹5,685.56 crore as foreign grants-in-aid to friendly countries, with specific bilateral assistance in 2026-27 including ₹2,288 crore to Bhutan, ₹800 crore to Nepal, ₹550 crore to Maldives, and ₹400 crore to Sri Lanka. Although the budget did not consolidate the SDG 17-line item, these international and cooperative financial measures underscore India’s commitment to strengthening multi-level partnerships for sustainable development.
These strategies provide pathways for individuals, communities, and governments to work collectively towards sustainable development. Changes in daily habits, the choices we make, and policies and programs at the systemic level have a profound impact on creating a more sustainable future for future generations. By embracing these principles, we can contribute to a more balanced and sustainable lifestyle.
