Surat, 9 February 2026 — Former Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani on Sunday said that the Union Budget 2026–27, presented under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will further strengthen India’s economic capabilities and accelerate the journey towards a developed nation.
Addressing a press conference in Surat, Smt. Irani said Prime Minister Modi’s visionary, decisive and duty-driven leadership has laid a strong foundation for the country’s growth. She stated that the budget has clearly outlined a roadmap for transforming Progressive India into Developed India, which has received widespread support from citizens.
She said that significant budgetary provisions for manufacturing, MSMEs, biopharma and the creative economy have been widely welcomed. Highlighting women empowerment, Smt. Irani noted that nearly 10 crore women are actively contributing to the economy through Self Help Groups, and the announcement of the ‘She-Mart’ initiative is an important step in further strengthening their economic participation.
Referring to the healthcare sector, Smt. Irani said the allocation of ₹10,000 crore for the Biopharma Strength Mission reflects the government’s commitment to making India a global healthcare leader. She pointed out that India currently supplies nearly 60 per cent of the world’s vaccines, a result of far-sighted policy decisions taken under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
She also highlighted the government’s focus on MSMEs, stating that Gujarat is home to a large number of MSME units and the budget includes several measures that will benefit entrepreneurs in Surat and across the state.
Speaking on the electronics sector, Smt. Irani said India’s electronics exports have seen remarkable growth—from $4 million in 2014 to $37 million today—due to the Prime Minister’s special emphasis on electronics manufacturing. The budget, she added, presents a clear roadmap to position India as a global leader in electronics manufacturing and exports.
Smt. Irani further stated that more than 350 reforms have been implemented so far under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, including GST reforms, labour code notifications and Quality Control Orders, which have strengthened India’s economic ecosystem.
Highlighting Surat’s textile industry, she said the establishment of Textile Parks, implementation of the National Technical Textiles Mission, and trade agreements with the European Union and the United States will provide fresh momentum to the textile sector.
The press conference was attended by Regional BJP Vice President and MLA Smt. Jhankhanaben Patel, Surat City BJP President Shri Pareshbhai Patel, former State Minister and MLA Shri Purneshbhai Modi, along with other BJP leaders.
Prior to the press conference, an interactive session was held with representatives of various industry associations and professionals in Surat to discuss the implications of the Union Budget 2026–27.
