India to Establish NIMHANS-2 in North, Boost Mental Health Institutes in Tezpur and Ranchi
In a landmark move for mental healthcare in India, the Union Budget 2026-27 has announced the establishment of a second National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in North India, alongside significant upgrades for two Central government-run mental health institutes in Tezpur and Ranchi. This initiative aims to bridge the substantial treatment gaps in mental health services across the country.
Budget Announcement and Strategic Focus
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed these measures during her budget presentation on Sunday, highlighting a special focus on mental health. "There has been a special focus on mental health in this year’s budget, which is a welcome move," stated Union Health Minister J P Nadda, underscoring the government's commitment to this critical area of public health.
The new NIMHANS-2 will be located in North India, though the exact site is yet to be finalized, according to officials from the Union health ministry. This development addresses a key regional deficiency, as there are currently no national institutes for mental healthcare in northern India.
Addressing Treatment Gaps and Regional Disparities
The decision comes in response to alarming statistics from the previous National Mental Health Survey (2015-16), which identified a treatment gap of 70% to 92% for mental health conditions. "There are no national institutes for mental healthcare in north India. We will, therefore, set up a NIMHANS-2 and also upgrade National Mental Health Institutes in Ranchi (in Jharkhand) and Tezpur (Assam) as Regional Apex Institutions," Sitharaman explained during her announcement.
Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director of NIMHANS, emphasized the urgency of this expansion: "There is a huge treatment gap when it comes to mental health conditions, which needs to be addressed at all levels of healthcare, beginning from primary health centres. NIMHANS-like institutions are, however, extremely important to train specialists and even general medicine physicians in psychiatric and neurological disorders." She noted a significant deficit of trained psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurses, highlighting that such institutes are crucial for developing human resources in mental health.
Enhancing National Mental Health Infrastructure
The original NIMHANS, established in 1974 in Bengaluru, is India's sole multidisciplinary institute dedicated to patient care and cutting-edge research in mental health and neurosciences. It operates as a 1,000-bed standalone mental hospital, providing specialized care for various disorders and handling nearly 2,000-3,000 patients in its outpatient clinics. Dr. Murthy highlighted its broader role: "NIMHANS undertakes a lot of awareness-building in mental health and neurosciences and engages in cutting-edge research, particularly what can be translated from the bench to the bedside, and bedside to the community." The institute has been instrumental in national mental health policies, leading initiatives like the TeleMANAS programme and the second national mental health survey.
Dr. Rajinder Dhamija, Chair of the government’s National Task Force on Brain Health, outlined the strategic vision behind the new developments: "While there are several state government hospitals across the country, including north India, specialised Central government hospitals do not exist in the region. The two Central-government run hospitals in Tezpur and Ranchi, now being strengthened, can cater to people from the East and Central regions of the country, with NIMHANS taking care of those in the South. So, the new centre in the North can cater to the people here." He added that this would create a comprehensive mental health network similar to existing cancer care systems.
Future Implications and Broader Impact
The upgrades to the institutes in Tezpur and Ranchi as Regional Apex Institutions are expected to enhance their capacity to serve as hubs for mental healthcare in their respective regions. Currently, of the 72 mental health hospitals and centres of excellence supported by the National Mental Health Programme, 25 are in North India, but these are primarily state-run facilities. The new Central initiatives aim to fill this gap with specialized, high-quality care.
Dr. Murthy further justified the need for regional centres: "We do get referrals from across the country and this is the reason that more regional centres have to be established." NIMHANS also serves as the coordinating centre for the TeleMANAS programme, which provides on-call mental health services nationwide, demonstrating the institute's pivotal role in India's mental health ecosystem.
This budget announcement marks a significant step forward in India's mental health strategy, aiming to reduce treatment disparities, improve access to specialized care, and foster a more robust infrastructure for training and research. As mental health gains prominence in public policy, these measures are poised to make a lasting impact on the well-being of millions across the country.
