Patna: Rohini Acharya, formerly associated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has criticised the Union Budget 2026, describing it as “old goods in new packaging” and accusing the Narendra Modi government of failing to address pressing economic concerns. Her remarks came shortly after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the annual budget in parliament on Sunday.
Reacting to the announcement, Acharya said the spending plan lacked fresh or innovative measures to strengthen the economy. She questioned how the government intends to increase per capita income and argued that the document offered little clarity on large-scale employment generation. While the budget highlighted digital content creation and innovation, she said it failed to outline how meaningful jobs would be created for both educated and unskilled youth.
पुराने सामान को नए डिब्बे में नए लेबल के साथ परोसने जैसा ही है बजट ..
अर्थव्यवस्था को मजबूत करने के लिए प्रति व्यक्ति आय में बढ़ोत्तरी कैसे होगी ? इस पर बजट में कोई स्पष्टता नहीं है , डिजिटल कंटेंट क्रिएशन को बढ़ावा देने की बात की गयी है , मगर देश की शिक्षित व् गैर – शिक्षित… pic.twitter.com/5tdOo1uwt7
— Rohini Acharya (@RohiniAcharya2) February 1, 2026
In a post on social media platform X, Acharya said unemployment remains one of the country’s most serious challenges but the budget did not present a clear roadmap to tackle it. She described several proposals as cosmetic, adding that they lacked concrete steps that could translate into real opportunities for young people.
She also raised concerns about Bihar’s recurring flood crisis. According to Acharya, there were no dedicated provisions for flood prevention, post-flood rehabilitation or the development of irrigation infrastructure longstanding demands in a state heavily dependent on agriculture. The absence of a special package, she said, was disappointing for residents who face annual damage to livelihoods and property.
Sitharaman presented a Rs 53.47 lakh crore budget, describing it as a blueprint for growth and citizens’ welfare. Prime minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar defended the proposals as people-centric and development-oriented. A substantial share of the allocation has been directed towards defence spending, marking the highest defence outlay to date, amid rising tensions with neighbouring countries.
The budget session of parliament began on January 28 and will continue in phases, with debates expected to intensify over the government’s economic priorities.
