In the Union Budget 2026, the Centre has announced a series of measures pertaining to culture and heritage, spanning textiles, archaeology, religious tourism, and sandalwood.
Among the key announcements are a new integrated programme for the textile sector, support for sandalwood cultivation, and the development of Buddhist circuits in the northeastern states.
Five-part textile push
Announcing the Budget on Sunday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed an integrated programme for the textile sector, comprising five components: a National Fibre Scheme to boost self-reliance in natural and man-made fibres; a Textile Expansion and Employment Scheme to modernise traditional clusters; a National Handloom and Handicraft Programme to strengthen existing schemes and support weavers and artisans; a Tex-Eco Initiative to promote global competitiveness; and Samarth 2.0 to modernise the textile skilling ecosystem through collaboration with industry and academic institutions.
She also proposed setting up Mega Textile Parks in challenge mode and announced the launch of the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj initiative to strengthen khadi, handloom, and handicrafts.
“This will benefit our weavers, village industries, the One District–One Product initiative, and rural youth,” the minister said.
Even as the Centre announced a slew of measures to support the textile sector, the budgetary allocation for the National Handloom Development Programme stood at Rs 205 crore for 2026–27, down from the revised estimate of Rs 234.84 crore in 2025–26.
Similarly, while the finance minister proposed a scheme to boost self-reliance in natural fibres, the allocation for the Integrated Wool Development Programme stands at Rs 20 crore, compared to Rs 18.28 crore in 2025–26 and a revised estimate of Rs 25.80 crore.
Meanwhile, the allocation for the PM–MITRA scheme, aimed at developing large, world-class integrated textile parks across India, has been set at Rs 300 crore for 2026–27, against a revised estimate of Rs 200 crore last year.
Archaeological site redevelopment
With growing interest in historical sites, reflected in the rise of curated walks across India, the Union government has announced the development of 15 archaeological sites. These include Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur, and Leh Palace, among others, which will be developed into “vibrant, experiential cultural destinations.”
Excavated landscapes will be opened to the public through curated walkways.
“Immersive storytelling skills and technologies will be introduced to help conservation labs, interpretation centres, and guides,” the minister added.
Sandalwood 'glory'
Highlighting sandalwood’s close links to India’s social and cultural heritage, Sitharaman announced measures for the sector.
“Our government will partner with state governments to promote focused cultivation and post-harvest processing to restore the glory of the Indian sandalwood ecosystem,” she said.
Buddhist circuits push
The Centre has also been taking steps to strengthen India’s Buddhist heritage, while also seeking to deepen cultural and diplomatic ties with Buddhist-majority countries. As part of the Union Budget 2026, the government announced the development of Buddhist sites in the northeastern region.
“The North-Eastern Region is a civilisational confluence of Theravada and Mahayana—or Vajrayana—traditions,” the finance minister said, while proposing a scheme to develop Buddhist circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
The scheme will cover the preservation of temples and monasteries, pilgrimage interpretation centres, connectivity, and pilgrim amenities.