VBU students share perspectives during dialogue with FM Sitharaman

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday engaged with youth during a post-Budget interaction, deliberating on how the Union Budget 2026 has been shaped by the aspirations, ideas, and energy of young Indians.

During the session, the finance minister interacted with the students of Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, Birbhum district and expressed her honour for the institution, describing it as a matter of pride to engage with students from a university of national and cultural importance.

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Somya Patel, a student of Hindi at Visva-Bharati University, raised a question on whether Budget-linked sectors could be integrated into language studies. Responding to this, Sitharaman highlighted that in today’s India, knowledge is no longer constrained by language barriers, supported by technology-driven platforms such as Bhashini. She highlighted the need to integrate domain knowledge across disciplines to enhance accessibility and understanding. She said: “You may think in multifarious ways ~ education, policy, communication, governance ~ by combining your strength in language with awareness of budgetary and financial processes. That integration is extremely valuable.”

Another student, Isha Halder, posed rapid-fire questions on Smt. Sitharaman’s inspirations and aspirations during her youth. Reflecting on her personal journey, the FM spoke about her experiences as a young student travelling from distant regions to pursue higher education in Delhi, sharing insights intended to motivate and inspire the youth. She said: “When I was 19, my dream was to come to Delhi and study ~ either in Delhi University or JNU. My parents were fully supportive. I came all the way on my own, wrote multiple entrance examinations, and secured admission.”

The interaction strengthened the Union government’s commitment to placing youth at the core of policy-making, with the Union Budget 2026 drawing inspiration from youth-led ideas to advance education, skill development, and future-ready growth.