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Union Budget 2026: FM Proposes ‘She MARTS’, Girls’ Hostel in Every District

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday unveiled a set of initiatives in the Union Budget 2026 aimed at strengthening higher education and encouraging women-led entrepreneurship. Key proposals include the construction of a girls’ hostel in every district and the launch of community-owned retail outlets called She MARTS.

She said the government plans to set up new institutions, university townships, girls’ hostels and advanced telescope infrastructure to attract greater investment in higher education. A girls’ hostel will be established in each district to support women pursuing higher studies, especially in STEM fields such as astrophysics and astronomy, where long study hours and laboratory work often create accommodation challenges.

The Finance Minister noted that these hostels will provide safe and convenient housing, helping improve enrolment and retention of women in advanced scientific disciplines.

On the entrepreneurship front, Sitharaman announced She MARTS — self-help entrepreneur marts designed as community-owned retail platforms. Building on the success of the Lakhpati Didi programme, she said the initiative will help women transition from credit-based livelihoods to enterprise ownership by offering better market access, branding support and sustainable income opportunities.

She also outlined six key priorities of the Budget focused on long-term growth and stability: expanding manufacturing in strategic sectors, reviving traditional industries, nurturing champion MSMEs, accelerating infrastructure development, ensuring long-term security, and developing city-based economic regions.