The Union Government has announced the setting up of a second National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS II) in North India to address the growing shortage of specialised mental health institutions in the region. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as she presented the Union Budget 2026–27 on Sunday.
Presenting the Budget, Sitharaman said, “Government will set up NIMHANS 2 and upgrade the National Mental Health Institutes in North India.” The proposed institute will be modelled on the Bengaluru-based NIMHANS, which is India’s apex centre for mental health education and neuroscience research.
Modelled on Bengaluru campus
The proposed NIMHANS II is aimed at bridging regional gaps in access to advanced mental healthcare, training and research facilities in North India. This follows continued expansion of the existing NIMHANS campus in Bengaluru, which has seen major infrastructure upgrades in recent years.
The Central Government has approved a 300-bed poly-trauma care hospital at the North Bengaluru campus at a cost of Rs 498 crore on 40 acres of land. In addition, a four-storeyed OPD complex costing ₹440 crore has been sanctioned at the central campus, housing 590 clinics and expanding outpatient capacity to over 5,000 patients per day.
NIMHANS continues to function as the nodal centre for the National Tele-Mental Health programme, which includes 23 centres of excellence across the country. The Tele Manas helpline, coordinated by NIMHANS, has received over 30 lakh calls so far.
Economic Survey flags mental health crisis
The Economic Survey 2026, presented earlier this week, flagged mental health as a major public health challenge in India. It pointed to a high prevalence of social media addiction among people aged 15 to 24 years and cited studies showing rising anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and stress linked to cyberbullying.
The survey also showed increasing digital addiction among children and adolescents, noting that excessive screen time is affecting academic performance, productivity and sleep, while weakening real-life social connections.
Mental health gets a major push
In 2025, Sitharaman has proposed that NIMHANS must continue to evolve as a national model of accessible, proactive and dignified care. She linked the expansion of mental health infrastructure to the broader national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. She delivered these remarks virtually at the 28th Convocation ceremony of NIMHANS, where 251 students received degrees and certificates and 28 students were honoured with excellence awards.
Karnataka Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Sharanprakash T Patil also announced that the state government has sanctioned two NIMHANS-like centres in Mysuru and Kalaburagi, with an initial investment of Rs 100 crore. With the announcement of NIMHANS II, the Centre has indicated a major push to strengthen mental health services, research and training across regions, at a time when the country is facing rising mental health challenges.