"For the Media and Entertainment industry, Union Budget 2026 should focus on a few practical steps. A single, lower GST rate for digital subscriptions, tax incentives for original Indian content, and easier compliance for small and mid-size OTT platforms will make an immediate difference. Budget support for regional content and clearer rules for digital advertising can help the industry grow sustainably, create jobs, and scale Indian storytelling globally."-Pratap Jain - Founder and CEO at ChanaJor.
Sundeep Mohindru, Founder & Promoter, M1xchange
"As we approach Union Budget 2026, the government's sustained focus on the MSME sector is encouraging. To achieve India's $10 trillion economic ambition by 2030, the emphasis must now move from intent to impact, particularly in strengthening the cash flows of micro and small enterprises that form over 90% of India's MSME base.
For MSMEs today, the core challenge is not access to credit alone, but timely receipt of payments. While the previous Budget rightly focused on mandatory registration of large buyers on TReDS, the next phase must prioritise active transacting and measurable increases in invoice volumes rather than registrations alone. Greater and more consistent participation from PSUs is especially critical to improving payment discipline across supply chains.
Budget 2026 should encourage phased or targeted mandates for PSU transacting on TReDS platforms, giving lenders higher confidence and enabling MSMEs to unlock working capital against confirmed receivables at lower cost. Expanding credit-guarantee support for invoice-based financing will further reduce borrowing costs for small businesses.
A parallel shift towards cash-flow-based lending by leveraging data from GST filings, e-invoices and utility payments, can significantly widen formal credit access for MSMEs that remain constrained by balance-sheet limitations. Additionally, increased adoption of deep-tier financing platforms will help extend liquidity beyond first-level suppliers, allowing smaller MSMEs to integrate more effectively into value chains and unlock productivity, scale and sustainable growth across the sector."
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Munindra Verma CEO of M1 NXT
"Budget 2026 comes at a critical moment for strengthening India's export and import ecosystem. While Indian exporters have shown resilience amid geopolitical disruptions and rising protectionism, sustaining this momentum will require a stable policy framework and predictable trade and foreign exchange regulations.
Access to timely and affordable trade finance remains a key constraint, particularly for MSME exporters. Budget 2026 should therefore prioritise low-cost working capital with effective risk management
Accordingly, Budget should strengthen interest equalisation schemes significantly, widen the adoption of trade credit insurance in a targeted manner, and simplify access to digital trade-finance through All Win Digital Public Infrastructure like ITFS platforms. Predictable access to low-cost credit, coupled with smoother global payment mechanisms, will directly enhance exporter competitiveness in an increasingly uncertain global environment. At the same time, enabling digitalisation, AI-led processes and data-driven financing can help exporters diversify markets and overcome non-tariff barriers more effectively."
Frozen food manufacturing : HyFun is one of India's leading frozen food manufacturers, with a strong focus on value-added potato products. The company serves leading QSR chains and retail markets across India and globally, supporting the country's agri-processing and export ecosystem.
1. by Haresh Karamchandani, Managing Director & Group CEO, HyFun Foods, says:
"With rising domestic and global demand, Budget 2026 presents a strong opportunity to accelerate India's food processing ecosystem through well-designed, outcome-linked policy support. Measures such as PLI (Production Linked Incentive) schemes for large-scale processors, export-oriented incentives, investments in cold-chain infrastructure, and support for backward integration can strengthen supply chains from farm to factory, attract greater entrepreneurial participation, and unlock the full potential of sectors such as frozen foods. Collectively, these steps can help India scale its role as a dependable global supplier of value-added food products."
Power & Electrical Equipment: Transformers and Rectifiers (India) Limited is a leading manufacturer of power, furnace, and rectifier transformers, catering to utilities, industrial, and infrastructure sectors in India and international markets.
2. by Mr. Satyen Mamtora, CEO and MD, Transformers and Rectifiers (India) Ltd. (TARIL) says:-
India's energy transition will require a stronger and more resilient grid. Ahead of Union Budget 2026, we look forward to sharper focus on transmission expansion, faster approvals and a single-window mechanism to address right-of-way delays. Increased support for energy storage and timely structural reforms will be crucial to enable large-scale renewable integration. A consistent policy push on grid modernisation and indigenous manufacturing of critical equipment such as transformers and storage systems will strengthen energy security, enhance competitiveness, and accelerate India's progress towards its clean energy goals.
"The Indian footwear and leather goods industry sits at a crucial inflection point as we head into the Union Budget. With India being the world's second-largest producer of footwear but still under-indexed in value-added exports, the focus must now shift from volume to value, design, and brand-led manufacturing. We believe the upcoming Budget should prioritise rationalisation of GST on premium footwear and leather accessories, as the current inverted duty structure continues to impact margins and consumer pricing. A more uniform tax regime across materials, components, and finished products will significantly improve supply-chain efficiency and compliance.
From a manufacturing standpoint, targeted incentives for modernisation of leather processing, automation in cutting, stitching and finishing, and adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies can help Indian manufacturers improve consistency, reduce wastage, and meet global quality benchmarks. Access to low-cost, long-tenure credit and expanded PLI-style support for the footwear and leather goods sector will further accelerate capacity building.
Skill development remains another critical pillar. The industry employs millions, yet there is an urgent need for structured skilling in pattern engineering, design development, quality control, and sustainable leather processing. Budgetary support for training clusters and collaboration with design institutes can strengthen India's position as a design-led manufacturing hub. As a homegrown brand, Louis Stitch strongly believes that with the right policy support, Indian footwear and leather goods brands can successfully move up the global value chain, reduce import dependence in the premium segment, and establish India as a credible source of high-quality, responsibly made fashion and lifestyle products for the world."
2-Pre-Budget 2026 Quote from Mr. Dikshu C. Kukreja, Managing Principal of CP Kukreja Architects offering industry perspectives on the Architecture & Built Environment aligned with India's housing, infrastructure, and sustainability goals.
Quote: Infrastructure Industry
India's urban infrastructure is no longer just a support system for growth; it is a determinant of economic productivity, climate resilience, and social equity. The nearly ₹97,000 crore allocation to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the 2025–26 Budget last year signals a clear recognition of this shift, strengthening programmes such as PMAY (Urban) and core investments in water, sanitation, and urban services.
Instruments like the Urban Challenge Fund and the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund are particularly important because they move the conversation from isolated projects to integrated city-making, supporting transport-linked development, compact urban form, and viable public-private partnerships.
As sustainability frameworks mature through construction-waste regulations and green building codes, the next step must be fiscal incentives that reward low-carbon construction, adaptive reuse, and material efficiency. Equally critical is embedding professional design and planning expertise at the earliest stages of budgeting and project conception. When spatial strategy and climate thinking are built in from the start, cities perform better, not just economically, but socially and environmentally.
3-Pre-Budget 2026 quote from Mr. Manish Bansal, Director, Window Magic, offering industry perspective on the building materials and fenestration sector, aligned with India's housing, infrastructure, and sustainability goals.
Quote: Infrastructure Industry
"As we approach the Union Budget 2026, the building materials and fenestration sector stands at a critical inflection point, closely linked to India's housing, infrastructure, and urban development ambitions. With a growing emphasis on sustainable construction and energy-efficient buildings, there is a strong opportunity to accelerate the adoption of high-quality, Made-in-India uPVC and aluminium window and door systems.
We believe the upcoming Budget should focus on rationalising GST structures, incentivising green and energy-efficient building materials, and improving access to long-term, affordable credit for MSMEs across the construction value chain. Fenestration plays a vital role in enhancing thermal efficiency, indoor comfort, and overall building sustainability. Policy support for energy-rated windows, use of recycled materials, and adoption of advanced fabrication and automation technologies can significantly fast-track this transition.
Equally important is skill development. Structured training, certification, and upskilling of installers and fabricators will help improve quality, safety, and performance standards across the sector. With the right policy framework, Indian fenestration companies can support sustainable urbanisation, reduce import dependence, and position India as a globally competitive hub for advanced, environmentally responsible building solutions."
Rohan Dewan, Founder of LeafyBus-
"As the Budget sets the direction for infrastructure-led growth, India's next phase of electric mobility must move beyond pilots and focus on scale. While cities have led the EV transition so far, intercity and highway transport still account for a disproportionate share of diesel consumption and emissions. If electric buses are to work nationally, they need to be treated as core transport infrastructure, not experimental projects. The industry is looking for targeted policy support around interoperable highway charging, rational GST structures, and access to long-tenure, low-cost financing that matches the life cycle of EV fleets. Clear regulations and faster approvals can unlock private capital, improve operator economics, and accelerate the shift to cleaner long-distance travel."
Kalyan Sivasilam, Co-founder, 5C Network-
"India has a structural problem: 12,000 radiologists serving 1.4 billion people. No amount of medical college expansion solves this in the next decade. AI does.
Indian companies have built diagnostic AI trained on billions of images, achieving clinical accuracy that matches global benchmarks at a tenth of the cost. The technology is ready. The policy framework is not.
Three expectations from Union Budget 2026:
First, recognize AI-powered diagnostics as health infrastructure, not software. This means GST rationalization to 5% for AI-enabled diagnostic services and inclusion in Ayushman Bharat reimbursement pathways.
Second, create a PLI-style incentive for indigenous medical AI companies building on Indian datasets. We should not cede this strategic capability to foreign platforms.
Third, invest in GPU compute infrastructure for healthcare. Foundation models in medical imaging require serious compute. A national health AI compute cluster, similar to what the US and EU are building, would accelerate R&D and keep talent onshore.
India has the data, the talent, and the clinical validation. Budget 2026 should provide the policy conviction to make AI-first healthcare a national priority."
Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO, TeamLease Edtech -
As the Union Budget approaches, there is a strong case to reimagine CSR as a catalyst for employability, not just access. Allowing CSR funds to be channelled toward skilling infrastructure in schools and higher education institutions can strengthen workforce readiness at the source. Embedding vocational training, modular learning, and work-linked degree programs within formal education will help ensure that first-time job seekers enter the workforce not just qualified, but truly job-ready and productive.
- HungerBox: Mr. Sandipan Mitra, Co-Founder & CEO, commented, "For the upcoming Union Budget 2026, B2B foodtech platforms expect policy clarifications that address structural tax duplication under both Income Tax and GST, while preserving compliance and revenue integrity. Both under Income Tax and GST, B2B foodtech platforms face tax duplication because facilitation platforms are taxed as trading models. Budget-level clarifications can eliminate double taxation while preserving compliance and revenue integrity. B2B foodtech platforms operate on an agency model, but current TDS provisions result in tax being deducted twice on the gross transaction value, once by corporates and again by the platform. A Budget clarification for e-commerce transactions to allow a single, platform-level TDS deduction and exemption to the end customers would prevent double TDS deduction for one transaction and unlock working capital without any revenue loss to the Govt."
In institutional food services, platforms act as facilitators, not traders, yet current GST rules on MRP items force them to appear as buyers and sellers. Allowing platforms to discharge GST on behalf of vendors, similar to rules for non-MRP supplies, would align taxation with commercial substance, improve compliance certainty, and better avoid tax evasions by the merchants, and also ease compliance for customers." - Invincible Ocean: "India's AI and deeptech budget allocation must now move from intent to impact. A critical portion of this capital should be invested in building a robust evaluation and governance layer, one that clearly distinguishes companies doing genuine AI research and model development from those offering traditional software while positioning themselves as AI-led. This will ensure that public funds are channelled to innovators who are truly advancing India's AI capabilities. Additionally, for startups working at the core of AI and deeptech, Budget 2026 should introduce targeted tax rebates for R&D upgrades and structured compute-credit programs to support data processing and model training. These measures will directly lower innovation costs and help Indian startups build globally competitive AI products from India," said Mr. Ajay Setia, Founder & CEO, Invincible Ocean.
Mangalam Worldwide:
" As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, the industry would welcome continued support to strengthen India's manufacturing ecosystem through policy stability, infrastructure development, and a level playing field for domestic producers. For the metals and stainless steel sector, factors such as rising steel input costs, raw material volatility, global trade disruptions, and dumping pressures continue to pose challenges.
The forthcoming Budget may consider measures such as trade safeguards where appropriate, rationalisation of duties on critical steel inputs, and incentives that encourage capacity expansion and value-added manufacturing. Improved access to long-term financing for technology upgrades, compliance requirements, and scale efficiencies could further support sectoral growth. "
- Chandragupt Prakash Mangal, Managing Director, Mangalam Worldwide Limited.
"As India prepares for Budget 2026, it is crucial to strengthen the digital healthcare ecosystem while formally recognising eldercare as a priority sector. Policy support through tax incentives for senior care services, wider insurance coverage for preventive and assisted care, and incentives for digital health platforms will enable scalable, home-based care models. Such measures can significantly improve senior well-being while building a sustainable, technology-driven healthcare and eldercare ecosystem." -Prashanth Reddy Founder and Managing Director Anvayaa.
Suketu Shah, CEO, Vishal Fabrics Ltd., for your reference: "Last year's Budget laid a strong foundation for the textile sector, translating into tangible outcomes in 2025 through improved export performance, GST rationalisation, expansion of the PLI scheme, and faster execution of PM MITRA Parks, signalling a shift from policy intent to on-ground scale and impact. The ₹5,272 crore allocation supported efforts to boost domestic manufacturing, modernise infrastructure, and strengthen India's global competitiveness under the Make in India vision. We are hopeful, the Union Budget 2026 shall offer an opportunity to build on this momentum of greater importance to modern technology and machinery to drive efficiency and scale. Higher allocations towards R&D and innovation, a stronger focus on the cotton value chain covering farm productivity, quality, and sustainability, and controlled garment imports will be crucial. Streamlined export processes through platforms like BharatTradeNet, improved access to export credit, and the implementation of progressive labour policies can further consolidate India's leadership in the global textile value chain."
Mr. Anil Kapasi, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Arihant Academy-Last year's Budget truly reflected a clear, forward-looking approach to education, with a strong emphasis on AI-led learning through the establishment of AI Centres, paving the way for more personalised, adaptive, and efficient education outcomes. The Indian Union Budget 2025 allocated a total of ₹1.28 lakh crore to the Ministry of Education, with focused investments across school and higher education, including initiatives such as 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, skilling centres, and expanded IIT infrastructure, aligned with the broader Viksit Bharat vision. The year 2025 saw a strong push towards AI-led, skill-based, and blended learning, supported by expanded digital infrastructure and initiatives such as India's SOAR programme.
As we look ahead, this year's Budget is expected to serve as the next building block in strengthening the education ecosystem. Greater emphasis is likely to be placed on skill-based education, digital literacy, and teacher empowerment, alongside addressing infrastructure gaps, expanding inclusive access, and promoting stronger industry-academia links for enhanced employability this year. Continued support for schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, PM-POSHAN, and PM SHRI, combined with a broader focus on holistic development (arts, sports, ethics, and student well-being), will be crucial to driving balanced and inclusive growth across both rural and urban India."
