Budget 2026: Rs 10,000 crore SME fund, mega textile parks proposed

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposed the creation of a Rs 10,000 crore fund aimed at developing champion small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as part of measures to boost economic growth.

Presenting the Union Budget 2026–27, Sitharaman said the proposed fund would support the growth of SMEs and help strengthen their role in the economy.

The finance minister also announced a scheme for container manufacturing, aimed at creating a globally competitive ecosystem in the sector.

In the textiles segment, the budget proposed setting up mega textile parks with a focus on value addition to technical textiles. Sitharaman also outlined an integrated textile programme with five sub-parts.

She said India has the potential to emerge as a global hub for high-quality and affordable sports goods.

The budget further proposed the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj initiative to strengthen khadi and handloom.

In addition, Sitharaman announced a scheme to revive 200 legacy industrial clusters across the country.