In News:

The Union Budget 2026–27 places health at the centre of India’s development strategy, aligning with the broader goals of capacity building, inclusive growth, and economic resilience. A key announcement is Biopharma SHAKTI (Strategy for Healthcare Advancement through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation), alongside major reforms in medical education, geriatric care, AYUSH, mental health, and emergency services.

Biopharma SHAKTI: Towards a Global Biopharma Hub

Biopharma SHAKTI aims to position India as a global manufacturing hub for biologics and biosimilars, with an outlay of ?10,000 crore over five years.

Key Components:

• Development of a biopharma innovation and manufacturing ecosystem
• Establishment of 3 new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) and upgrading 7 existing ones
• Creation of 1,000+ accredited clinical trial sites across India
• Promotion of advanced biomanufacturing infrastructure and R&D

The initiative responds to India’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders, which require advanced biologic therapies.

• Biologics are complex medicines derived from living organisms, often expensive and technologically demanding to produce.
• Biosimilars are highly similar, cost-effective alternatives that expand access to life-saving treatments while maintaining safety and efficacy.

Strengthening the Health Workforce

To create skilled employment pathways:

• Allied Health Professional (AHP) institutions will be upgraded
• 100,000 new AHPs will be added over five years in fields such as optometry, radiology, anaesthesia technology, OT technology, applied psychology, and behavioural health

Additionally, a national care ecosystem will be built for geriatric and allied care services.

• 1.5 lakh caregivers will be trained through NSQF-aligned programmes
• Training will include wellness, yoga, and operation of assistive devices

This addresses India’s ageing population and growing demand for long-term and home-based care.

Regional Medical Hubs and Medical Tourism

A new scheme will support states in establishing five Regional Medical Hubs through public-private partnerships. These integrated complexes will include:

• Advanced medical facilities
• Educational and research institutions
• AYUSH centres
• Medical value tourism facilitation services
• Diagnostics, rehabilitation, and post-care infrastructure

This aims to boost medical tourism, generate employment, and improve regional healthcare access.

Boost to AYUSH and Traditional Medicine

Recognising global interest in traditional systems:

• 3 new All India Institutes of Ayurveda will be established
• AYUSH pharmacies and drug testing laboratories will be upgraded
• The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, Jamnagar will be strengthened for evidence-based research and training

Mental Health and Emergency Care Expansion

To bridge regional gaps:

• National Mental Health Institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur will be upgraded as Regional Apex Institutions
• Emergency capacity of district hospitals will be increased by 50% through new Emergency and Trauma Care Centres

These measures strengthen India’s preparedness for both routine and crisis healthcare needs.

In News:

The Union government has announced SHE-Mart (Self-Help Entrepreneur Mart) as a new institutional platform to promote women entrepreneurship in rural India. The initiative represents a shift from traditional micro-credit support towards structured, market-linked enterprises owned and managed by women.

Key Highlights:

SHE-Marts are envisioned as community-owned retail outlets established at the cluster-level federation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). They will be supported through enhanced and innovative financing mechanisms, ensuring sustainability and scalability.

Objectives

SHE-Marts aim to:

• Provide permanent retail spaces for SHG-produced goods
• Ensure direct market access, reducing dependence on intermediaries
• Promote branding, packaging, and value addition
• Encourage processing of agricultural and non-farm products
• Create sustainable income streams for rural women
• Strengthen grassroots institutions such as SHGs and their federations

The initiative signals a policy transition from credit-led livelihoods to enterprise ownership, integrating production, marketing, and financial inclusion.

Lakhpati Didi Programme

SHE-Marts build upon the Lakhpati Didi Programme, launched in 2023, which aims to enable women SHG members to earn at least ?1 lakh per year through skill development and enterprise promotion.

Key Features of Lakhpati Didi

• Implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development
• Targets financial empowerment of rural women
• Focuses on skill training in diverse trades such as:
  • Plumbing
  • Tailoring and weaving
  • LED bulb manufacturing
  • Drone operation and repair
• Provides income-generation opportunities post-training
• National target: Training 2 crore women

By equipping women with technical and entrepreneurial skills, the programme lays the foundation for their participation in structured markets — which SHE-Marts now seek to institutionalize.

Significance for Inclusive Development

Together, Lakhpati Didi and SHE-Mart represent a comprehensive rural transformation model based on:

• Women-led economic growth
• Local value addition and market integration
• Strengthening SHG federations as economic institutions
• Reducing rural poverty through enterprise ownership