Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on February 1 said the reforms announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 would help create new opportunities for startups, IT-enabled services and skilled youth in the Northeast. At the same time, the Manipur Congress criticised the Budget, alleging that it failed to address the state’s long-running crisis.In a post on social media, Singh said the Budget had given a strong push to India’s information technology sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He said the measures announced would support innovation and help young people find new avenues of employment, including in the northeastern region.“These reforms will create fresh opportunities for startups, IT-enabled services and skilled youth. This Budget strengthens India’s move towards a digital and innovation-driven economy,” Singh said.
In another post, the former chief minister also welcomed the Budget’s focus on promoting high-value agriculture and diversifying farm output. He said such steps would help improve farmer incomes and strengthen rural livelihoods over time.However, the Union Budget drew sharp criticism from the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee. Its president, Keisham Meghachandra, said the Budget did not reflect the ground realities in Manipur, which has been facing a prolonged humanitarian and security crisis.“Budget 2026 is out, but for Manipur the silence from Delhi is deafening,” Meghachandra said in a post. He claimed that thousands of people have been displaced over the past three years and many families are still struggling to return to their homes.
He also alleged that the Budget did not provide for a proposed Peace and Reconciliation Fund for Manipur. Questioning infrastructure announcements, he said road projects alone would not solve the deeper issues facing the state. “Announcing Rs 12,000 crore for roads means little when people are afraid to travel. Concrete cannot replace security,” he said, adding that Manipur needed justice, priority and a clear roadmap to peace.Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the 2026–27 financial year, outlining measures aimed at boosting infrastructure, digital growth and economic activity across the country, including in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
