Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta Backs Fiscal Discipline in Budget 2026-27, Calls for Stronger Push in Education, Health and Public Spending

Demands ₹10,000 Crore Special Package for Mohali Semiconductor Fab, Pushes for Punjab’s Industrial Revival

He proposed:

• Establishment of an Independent Education Commission

• Tax and rental relief for senior citizens

• When benefits reach every life equally, trust is built — and Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas becomes a lived reality

Bbaushahi  Bureau 

New Delhi, February 11, 2026: Rajya Sabha Member Rajinder Gupta delivered a comprehensive and balanced speech in the Upper House during the discussion on the Union Budget 2026–27, appreciating the government’s fiscal discipline while urging stronger public investment in education, healthcare, and employment generation.

Congratulating the Finance Minister on presenting her ninth consecutive Budget, Gupta termed it a symbol of stability, continuity, and growing women leadership in governance.

He noted that the Budget begins with a resolve for the poor and weaker sections, invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable.

Gupta praised several key strengths of the Budget:

• Fiscal deficit maintained at 4.3%

• Capital expenditure sustained above ₹12 lakh crore

• Continued focus on tax reforms and ease of doing business

• Relief measures for the pharmaceutical sector

• Increased allocation for women-centric schemes

• Historic India–EU Trade Deal termed as the “Mother of Trade Deals”

However, he emphasized that to achieve the goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy under Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, public expenditure must be further strengthened, particularly in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Education & Youth: Need for Structural Reform

Raising concerns about commercialization of education, Gupta pointed out that while the allocation of ₹1.39 lakh crore signals intent, spending still remains below the National Education Policy’s 6% GDP target.

He highlighted:

• Closure of over 90,000 schools

• Erosion of public trust in government schools

• Growing coaching industry driven by anxiety

• Youth unemployment above 20%

• Severe degree–skill mismatch

He proposed:

• Establishment of an Independent Education Commission

• Centers of Excellence in government schools

• Accountability measures for public officials

• Education–Employment–Enterprise (EEE) clusters

Healthcare: Public System Under Pressure

Gupta acknowledged the benefits of Ayushman Bharat and focus on Ayurveda and medical tourism but warned that India’s 1.9% GDP spending on health is inadequate compared to global standards.

He called for:

• Emergency strengthening of public hospitals

• Tax incentives for hospitals in underserved areas

• Stronger safeguards and timely reimbursements under Ayushman Bharat

Senior Citizens & Women Empowerment

He advocated for:

• Tax and rental relief for senior citizens

• Higher and safer bank interest for elderly depositors

• Mandatory government procurement from women-led enterprises

• Workplace safety and childcare infrastructure

Demands ₹10,000 Crore Special Package for Mohali Semiconductor Fab, Pushes for Punjab’s Industrial Revival

Being MP frm Punjab  Rajinder Gupta made a strong case for Punjab’s industrial resurgence during the Budget 2026–27 discussion, urging the Centre to allocate a ₹10,000 crore special package to establish a fully modern Semiconductor Fabrication (Fab) facility in Mohali.

Highlighting Punjab’s untapped industrial potential, Gupta said that strengthening key sectors like Semiconductors, Textiles, and Advanced Manufacturing would create dignified employment locally and reduce migration of youth to countries like Canada and the UK.

Mohali’s Strategic Importance

Referring to the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali — India’s only government-owned semiconductor fab — Gupta stated that upgrading it into a fully modern fabrication unit is not merely a Punjab issue but a matter of national technological self-reliance.

“This is not just Punjab’s demand; it is about India’s semiconductor sovereignty,” he emphasized.

Industry as the Answer to Migration

Gupta argued that robust industrial infrastructure in Punjab can:

• Generate high-skilled jobs for engineers and technicians

• Strengthen MSMEs linked to semiconductor and textile supply chains

• Boost exports and regional GDP

• Reduce brain drain from the state

He said Punjab has always stood firmly with the nation, and now deserves priority support to build its next industrial chapter.

Textile Sector & Trade Agreements

The MP also welcomed the India–EU Trade Deal and said Punjab’s textile industry stands to benefit significantly if supported through infrastructure, patient capital, and logistics reform.

Call for Balanced Regional Development

Gupta concluded by urging the Centre to ensure balanced regional development, asserting that empowering Punjab’s industrial ecosystem would contribute directly to India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047.

MSMEs and Financial Architecture

Gupta said MSMEs employing over 11 crore Indians need patient capital and simplified compliance systems. He proposed establishing a strong development bank to fund long-term industrial growth aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047.

In his concluding remarks, Gupta stressed that the real test of the Budget lies in whether its promises reach classrooms, hospitals, farms, and households.

“When benefits reach every life equally, trust is built — and Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas becomes a lived reality,” he said.