Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Nani Gopal Mahanta hailed the Union Budget 2026-2027 as a forward-looking roadmap that could transform India’s higher education sector in line with the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision. He commended the government’s emphasis on education as a key driver of national advancement. Mahanta highlighted the Budget’s initiatives to enhance learning outcomes, boost research environments, and promote innovation in universities.
The Vice-Chancellor welcomed the proposal to establish university townships along major industrial and logistics corridors, foreseeing enhanced collaboration between academia and industry. He believed that such integrated ecosystems would promote applied research, facilitate knowledge sharing, and better align academic curricula with industry demands, thereby enhancing job prospects for graduates.
Mahanta also lauded the Budget’s inclusivity focus, especially the plan to set up girls’ hostels in every district. He viewed this as a significant step towards addressing barriers faced by women pursuing higher education, particularly in STEM fields. The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the Budget’s attention to frontier science, particularly the investments in advanced telescope infrastructure for astrophysics and astronomy research.
In conclusion, Mahanta described the Union Budget 2026 as a comprehensive and forward-thinking blueprint for higher education. He believed that by empowering institutions, supporting students, and fostering research and innovation, the Budget laid a solid groundwork for India’s educational and national progress.
