Union Budget 2026: What are the Three Kartavyas Guiding FM Sitharaman’s Budget 2026 Vision?

While presenting the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid out a clear philosophical framework for India’s economic journey ahead. She described three guiding ‘kartavyas’ (duties) that will shape government policy and decision-making in the coming years. Calling it the first Budget prepared at Kartavya Bhavan, she said these kartavyas aim to strengthen growth, empower citizens, and ensure inclusive access to opportunities, especially in a world facing economic volatility and global uncertainty.

Kartavya One: Speeding Up and Sustaining Economic Growth

• The first kartavya focuses on accelerating and sustaining economic growth.
• The Finance Minister stressed the need to improve productivity and competitiveness across sectors while building resilience against volatile global dynamics.
• This approach recognizes that India’s growth must not only be fast but also stable and shock-resistant.
• Policies under this kartavya aim to strengthen manufacturing, infrastructure, exports, and innovation so that India can maintain momentum even during global slowdowns or geopolitical disruptions.

Kartavya Two: Fulfilling Aspirations and Building Capacity

• The second kartavya is centred on people.
• Sitharaman said India’s citizens must be empowered to become active partners in the nation’s prosperity, not just beneficiaries of growth.
• This includes building skills, education, health, and employability, enabling individuals to realize their aspirations.
• The focus is on enhancing human capital so that economic growth translates into better livelihoods, higher incomes, and social mobility.
• Capacity-building is seen as essential for sustaining long-term development.

Kartavya Three: Inclusive Access and Balanced Development

• The third kartavya aligns with the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
• Its objective is to ensure that every family, community, region, and sector has access to resources, basic amenities, and opportunities.
• Sitharaman highlighted that growth must be inclusive and balanced, avoiding regional or social disparities.
• This responsibility focuses on inclusion, ensuring meaningful participation of all sections of society in India’s growth story and preventing development from becoming uneven or exclusionary.

Support System Needed to Deliver the Kartavyas

• The Finance Minister underlined that these three kartavyas require a strong support system.
• First, structural reforms must continue in a continuous, adaptive, and forward-looking manner.
• Second, a strong and resilient financial sector is crucial to mobilise savings, allocate capital efficiently, and manage economic risks.
• Third, cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, can act as force multipliers by improving governance, transparency, and service delivery.

Key Summary at a Glance

Question

Q. How many kartavyas were outlined by the Finance Minister in Budget 2026?

A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five