It was Arun Jaitely who archetypal mentioned the word Artificial quality (AI) successful a Finance Minister speech successful the 2018-19 Budget. It was mentioned 3 times successful that speech, doubly successful the discourse of integer abstraction technologies and NITI Aayog’s nationalist program, and erstwhile regarding the Department of Science & Technology’s ngo connected Cyber Physical Systems. In the Union Budget 2026 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) a record-breaking eleven times, marking the highest frequence the word has appeared successful immoderate Indian fund code to date.

The mentions of AI successful the Union Budget 2026 code was focused connected the pursuing circumstantial applications:
Governance: Serving arsenic a unit multiplier for improved nationalist work delivery.
Supporting caller technologies: Adopting caller technologies successful assorted sectors done the AI Mission and National Quantum Mission.
Labour marketplace analysis: Assessing the interaction of emerging tech specified arsenic AI connected occupation roles and accomplishment requirements.
Bharat-VISTAAR: A caller multilingual AI instrumentality designed for broader linguistic accessibility.
Agriculture: Integration with AgriStack portals and ICAR cultivation signifier packages.
Healthcare & accessibility: R&D and integration into assistive devices for People with Disabilities manufactured by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO).
Customs & security: Expanding non-intrusive scanning and precocious imaging for hazard assessment.
Education: Embedding AI modules straight into the nationalist acquisition program from schoolhouse level onwards and for teacher training.
Professional development: Upskilling and reskilling programs for engineers and tech professionals.
Employment matching: AI-enabled platforms to link workers with jobs and grooming opportunities.
Past Budgets
It was Arun Jaitley who archetypal mentioned “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) successful the 2018-19 Budget speech. The word appeared 3 times: doubly regarding integer abstraction technologies and NITI Aayog’s nationalist program, and erstwhile concerning the Department of Science & Technology’s ngo connected Cyber-Physical Systems.
In the 2019-20 Interim Budget, Piyush Goyal mentioned it 4 times, specifically detailing a National Programme, a National Centre, and a National Artificial Intelligence portal.
In the 2019-20 Budget, Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned it erstwhile portion discussing the value of new-age skills for the youth.
In 2020-21, she mentioned it 4 times. These references included the “new economy,” the integration of instrumentality learning and AI successful the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and the projected National Policy connected Official Statistics.
In 2021-22, the word appeared twice: erstwhile regarding the motorboat of MCA21 Version 3.0 driven by AI, and erstwhile regarding the usage of the exertion to place taxation evaders.
In 2022-23, she mentioned it erstwhile arsenic a “sunrise opportunity” susceptible of assisting sustainable development.
In 2023-24, Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned it 4 times successful narration to mounting up Centres of Excellence. The code featured the imaginativeness “Make AI successful India and Make AI enactment for India” and focused connected galvanizing an effectual AI ecosystem.
In 2025-26, she mentioned the word twice.
Source: Budget Documents 2026-27

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