BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd February 2026 : The Union Budget 2026-27, presented today by the Union Finance Minister, announced major initiatives for the pharmaceutical sector with a strong focus on research, innovation, and patient welfare.
Key measures include complete exemption from Basic Customs Duty on 36 life-saving medicines for cancer and other serious diseases, the addition of 37 new medicines and 13 programmes under patient assistance schemes, and the establishment of three Ayurvedic AIIMS along with national-level testing labs for Ayurvedic medicines.
The Government also unveiled the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma SHAKTI programme to boost biologics and biosimilars, train one lakh healthcare professionals, and strengthen India’s position as a global bio-pharma hub. Plans to set up three new NIPERs, upgrade seven existing institutes, and create a network of 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites were also announced.
Welcoming the budget, AIOCD leaders J. S. Shinde and Rajiv Singhal hailed the customs duty exemption as a “humane decision” that will reduce treatment costs. Biswajit Saha, General Secretary of the All Tripura Chemists and Druggists Association, said the measures reflect the Government’s commitment to affordable healthcare and innovation-driven growth.
