Budget 2026: Govt to develop Buddhist circuit in northeast India; eyes foreign tourists inflow

The measures include preservation and development of temples and monasteries to enhance their appeal as pilgrimage and tourist destinations. 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday commenced her ninth consecutive Union Budget presentation in the Lok Sabha, a historic first in India’s parliamentary history, as she laid out the roadmap for the Union Budget 2026–27.

In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Sitharaman announced initiatives to develop the Buddhist circuit in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, and Tripura. This focuses on promoting tourism and cultural heritage in these states, particularly in the Northeast, by supporting key Buddhist sites.

The measures include preservation and development of temples and monasteries to enhance their appeal as pilgrimage and tourist destinations, while boosting local infrastructure and spiritual tourism.

Political analyst and author Anand Ranganathan once said that Bodh Gaya should be developed as the Vatican of the East.

It is the sacred place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, home to the revered Bodhi Tree and the magnificent Mahabodhi Temple complex, a site of immense spiritual significance.

 With an estimated 535 million Buddhists worldwide (including large communities in countries like Japan, South Korea, and China), pilgrims from these nations would eagerly visit and invest in making Bodh Gaya a global Buddhist hub, much like the Vatican for Christianity.

Yet, despite its unparalleled importance as one of the holiest Buddhist sites, Bodh Gaya receives a very modest annual budget for development and maintenance. Only about 0.25 million foreign tourists visit the Bodhi Tree and the site each year, a strikingly low number given its potential to attract millions more through better infrastructure, promotion, and preservation efforts.

So, given its importance and significance, there is an urgent need to invest in Buddhist sites and allocate a proper budget for their development.

Sitharaman proposed to expand economy through strengthening medical, heritage and cultural tourism . 

1. National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid to be established to digitally document cultural, spiritual and heritage of significance 

2. Development of 15 archaeological sites, including Lothal, Sarnath, Dholavira and Hastinapur, into experiential cultural destinations. This move intended to promote tourism, improve infrastructure, and create a local jobs.

3. Proposal for the development of Integrated East Coast Corridor aimed at boosting trade and indutrial growth.

4. Government announces five regional medical tourism hubs in partnership with the private sector to make India a global leader in medical value tourism.