Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the union Budget 2026–27 in Parliament, proposing ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’, a multilingual artificial intelligence (AI) platform aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, improving farmer decision-making and reducing risks through customised advisory support.
The Budget identifies emerging technologies and AI as key enablers in fulfilling the government’s second Kartavya, meeting the aspirations of common citizens and strengthening their capacity to become active partners in India’s journey towards prosperity.
‘Bharat-VISTAAR’ (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) will integrate AgriStack portals and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) package of agricultural practices with AI systems.
The initiative is expected to provide farmers with tailored advisories, leading to better crop management, higher productivity and informed decision-making.
Highlighting inclusive technology adoption, the Budget said the push towards digital and emerging technologies will benefit farmers, women in STEM, youth seeking upskilling opportunities and Divyangjan by enabling access to new avenues of growth and employment.
Key government initiatives in this direction include the AI Mission, National Quantum Mission, Anusandhan National Research Fund, and the Research, Development and Innovation Fund.
With emerging technologies playing a pivotal role in India’s Orange Economy, the Budget underscored the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector as a fast-growing industry projected to require nearly two million professionals by 2030.
To strengthen this ecosystem, the Budget proposed support for the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai, to establish AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country.
Further, a new National Institute of Design has been proposed in eastern India to boost design education and development, recognising the rapid expansion of India’s design industry.