Union Budget 2026: Industry Perspectives and Reactions

Shri Temjen Imna Along
Minister of Higher Education & Tourism, Government of Nagaland

Shri Temjen Imna Along Minister of Higher Education Tourism Government of Nagaland

The Union Budget 2026–27 sends a strong signal that services, education and tourism will be central to India’s next phase of growth, and this has direct relevance for Nagaland. The proposal to establish University Townships along major corridors, coupled with the High-Powered ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ Standing Committee, reinforces the need to align higher education with employability and entrepreneurship, an area Nagaland has been actively reforming.

For the tourism sector, the upgradation of the National Council for Hotel Management into a National Institute of Hospitality, the pilot programme to train 10,000 certified guides, and the creation of a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will professionalise tourism while opening new opportunities for local youth. These measures are especially relevant for culturally rich states like Nagaland, where heritage, festivals and community tourism are key economic drivers.

The Budget’s focus on MSMEs, startups and creative industries, including AVGC and design education, provides pathways for youth to participate in the orange economy without migrating out of the region. Importantly, the continued thrust on Purvodaya and targeted tourism development in eastern and North-Eastern states acknowledges regional aspirations. This Budget offers Nagaland the policy tools to convert education into employment and tourism into sustainable livelihoods.