Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Sunday, announced the setting up of one girls’ hostel in every district of the country.
This is part of a series of initiatives in the Union Budget to improve education and access to education, and broader efforts to strengthen social infrastructure.
There are over 700 districts in the country.
“I propose multiple steps towards setting up new institutes, university townships, girls’ hostels, and telescope infrastructure facilities as investments in the higher education sector. A girls’ hostel will be built in every district of the country,” the finance minister said in her budget speech.
The move is expected to address the issue of dropout rates among young students, especially girls, particularly in districts where access to educational institutions is limited due to distance. It will also address safety concerns and affordability.
Presenting the Budget for 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha, the finance minister said India will continue to take steps towards becoming a Viksit Bharat.
The Centre, Sitharaman said, will support five university townships in the vicinity of major industrial logistics centres.