FM Nirmala Sitharaman speaking in Parliament on Medical and Heritage Tourism in Himalayan Region
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a sweeping push to create jobs, strengthen healthcare, boost education, tourism and sports, and raise farmer incomes, unveiling a multi-sector roadmap aligned with the Centre’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
At the heart of the announcement is a plan to set up five regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector.
These integrated healthcare complexes will combine medical education, research, diagnostics, rehabilitation and AYUSH centres, while also tapping India’s growing medical value tourism potential and generating large-scale employment for doctors and allied health professionals.
Riding on the global acceptance of yoga and Ayurveda, Sitharaman said the government will establish three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda, upgrade AYUSH pharmacies and drug-testing laboratories to global certification standards, and strengthen the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar to promote evidence-based research and training.
The push, she said, will help farmers cultivating medicinal herbs and youth engaged in Ayurveda product manufacturing.
To support rural livelihoods, the Finance Minister announced a loan-linked capital subsidy scheme to expand veterinary education and infrastructure in the private sector, aimed at adding over 20,000 veterinary and para-veterinary professionals.
Foreign collaboration in animal husbandry institutions will also be encouraged.
Highlighting the rise of the Orange Economy, Sitharaman said India’s animation, VFX, gaming and comics sector is projected to need 20 lakh professionals by 2030.
The government will support the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai, to set up AVGC content creator labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges across the country.
A new National Institute of Design will also be established in eastern India through the challenge route.
In education, the Centre will support states in developing five university townships near major industrial and logistics corridors.
To address accommodation challenges faced by girls in STEM institutions, one girls’ hostel will be set up in every district through viability gap and capital funding.
The government will also upgrade or establish four major astronomy and astrophysics facilities, including the National Large Solar Telescope and the Himalayan Chandra Telescope.
Tourism emerged as a key employment driver, with Sitharaman announcing the creation of a National Institute of Hospitality by upgrading existing hotel management bodies. But she didn't reveal its location.
A pilot programme will upskill 10,000 tourist guides at 20 iconic destinations, while a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will digitally document India’s cultural and heritage sites, opening new job avenues for local researchers and content creators.
The Centre will also develop eco-friendly mountain trekking trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, the Eastern and Western Ghats, along with turtle trails in coastal Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala, and bird-watching trails at Pulicat Lake.
On conservation, Sitharaman said India will host the first Global Big Cat Summit this year under the International Big Cat Alliance, bringing together representatives from 95 range countries.
In heritage tourism, 15 archaeological sites, including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Sarnath and Leh Palace, will be transformed into immersive cultural destinations.
She also announced the launch of a Khelo India Mission to overhaul the sports ecosystem through structured talent pathways, coach development, sports science integration and modern infrastructure.
The Finance Minister said these initiatives form part of the government’s third Kartavya—to drive inclusive growth, expand employment and increase farmer incomes through productivity and entrepreneurship.
