New Delhi: The Union Budget 2026 on Saturday announced that five University Townships will be set up near major industrial and logistics corridors, aimed at creating integrated hubs for higher education, research and skill development.

The townships will be developed through a challenge-based route and will host multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres and residential complexes, bringing academic infrastructure closer to key economic zones.

Girls’ hostels in every district

The Budget also announced that one girls’ hostel will be established in every district with viability gap funding (VGF) and capital support, addressing challenges faced by women students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) higher education, particularly due to long study hours and laboratory work.

Boost for astronomy infrastructure

To promote astrophysics and astronomy, the Budget proposed the setting up or upgradation of four major telescope infrastructure facilities—the National Large Solar Telescope, the National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope, the Himalayan Chandra Telescope and the COSMOS-2 Planetarium—to enable immersive learning and research experiences.