Mental health and trauma care emerged as a key focus area in the Union Budget 2026, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing significant institutional expansions to bolster India’s mental healthcare ecosystem.
The government plans to establish a second campus of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and modernise National Mental Health Institutes in northern India, aimed at improving access to specialised care, strengthening clinical capacity, and addressing the growing burden of mental health disorders across the country.
