In her Union Budget 2025-26 presentation on Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a series of measures aimed at supporting gig workers and enhancing healthcare infrastructure. Recognising the vital role of gig workers in the rapidly evolving digital economy, the government will facilitate the registration and issuance of identity cards for one crore gig workers on the e-Shram portal. These workers will also gain access to healthcare benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), ensuring better support for their welfare.
Additionally, Sitharaman highlighted plans to expand healthcare education and infrastructure. By the next year, 10,000 new medical seats will be created, with a further 75,000 seats expected over the next five years. Furthermore, the government aims to establish daycare cancer centers in every district hospital over the next three years, improving access to essential cancer treatment services across the country.
The finance minister also unveiled plans for a three-year pipeline of infrastructure projects to be implemented in public-private partnership (PPP) mode, further boosting development across various sectors. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to improving both healthcare access and the livelihoods of workers in India’s emerging sectors.