Suraj Punjabi, Cofounder – Medicine Walla, on today's Union Budget with respect to healthcare and medicines.
"The Union Budget's focus on healthcare is a welcome step towards improving accessibility and affordability for patients across the country. The decision to make select essential medicines tax-free is a strong, patient-friendly move that will help reduce treatment costs at the ground level and improve access to critical medicines. Such measures strengthen last-mile healthcare delivery and support community pharmacies that serve as the first point of care for millions."
Mukund Vasudevan, MD SKF India (Industrial) Limited and President – India, Southeast Asia and Middle East
"The Union Budget 2026–27 delivers a clear, confidence boosting push for India's industrial growth. Despite maintaining fiscal discipline, the higher public CAPEX of ₹12.2 lakh crore signals strong momentum for manufacturing and infrastructure. Reforms focused on financial access, technology adoption, and competitiveness lay the groundwork for long-term industrial strength - key for India to scale and compete alongside with global players. Investments in freight and industrial corridors, along with logistics upgrades, will lower costs, strengthen supply chains, and make Indian manufacturing more efficient.
MSME-focused steps such as the Growth Fund and an expanded TReDS ecosystem should ease liquidity and improve access to capital. Overall, the Budget reinforces India's direction toward localization, private investment, and resilient industrial growth, giving businesses greater clarity and confidence to scale."
Union Budget FY27 Quote - Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Systems Limited
"The FY27 Union Budget lays out a transformative blueprint for India's transport future, powered by a record capital outlay of ₹17.14 lakh crore in effective capex. This unprecedented investment reinforces railways as the backbone of India's long-term mobility and logistics strategy. By enabling high-speed connectivity, strengthening freight corridors and accelerating nationwide logistics efficiency, the government is building the foundations of a seamless, future-ready movement ecosystem for a $10 trillion India.
The Budget's emphasis on indigenisation and advanced technologies reflects a maturing industrial landscape—one where resilience, innovation and global competitiveness will define the next decade of India's railway evolution.
For Concord Control Systems, this moment is more than an opportunity—it is a call to leadership. As India builds intelligent, autonomous and technology-driven rail networks, we are committed to advancing the control, signalling and electronics backbone that will power this transformation. The nation is entering an unprecedented era of rail modernisation, and we are proud to be among the pioneers shaping that journey."
Union Budget FY27 Quote - Nitin Jain, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Systems Limited
The Union Budget FY27 presents a decisive and forward-looking vision for India's transport and infrastructure ecosystem, anchored by a record ₹17.14 lakh crore effective capital outlay. This scale of investment firmly positions railways at the heart of India's long-term mobility and logistics strategy—driving high-speed connectivity, strengthening freight corridors, and enabling a more integrated, efficient movement of people and goods across the country.
The Budget's continued emphasis on indigenisation, advanced electronics, and technology-led infrastructure signals a maturing industrial landscape where innovation and resilience will be key differentiators. For Concord Control Systems, this is a defining moment. As India accelerates towards intelligent, autonomous, and digitally enabled rail networks, we remain deeply committed to strengthening the control, signalling, and embedded electronics backbone that will power the next generation of rail modernisation. We are proud to play an active role in shaping a future-ready railway ecosystem for a rapidly growing India.
"For the D2C and healthy snacking sector, the Budget 2026 serves as a strong growth catalyst. The introduction of the ₹10,000 crore MSME Growth Fund creates a vital liquidity avenue for startups looking to scale beyond the early stage. Furthermore, the special emphasis on natural farming supply chains and the reduction of compliance burdens for food processing units will help us source high-quality raw materials more efficiently. It is encouraging to see the government recognizing the shift towards preventive health through diet, and these structural reforms will empower brands like ours to make healthy living more accessible to the masses," said Tarun Agrawal, Co-founder & CEO, Healthy Master.
Mr. Praveen Singh - CEO - AASOKA (A part of MBD Group)
"Union Budget 2026-27 clearly indicates that India is determined to build an innovation-driven economy. A proposed Education-to-Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee will be the right timing to focus on the mismatch between students' learning in schools and the needs of the service sector. Correct application of this coordination will mean that the youth will have skills that are up-to-date and correspond to an AI-increasing environment.
One of the major positives is the focus on constructing one girls' hostel in each district, which is a crucial step in curbing dropouts and ensuring that our girls are able to take full advantage of the STEM-driven growth story. Alongside the Capacity Building AI Mission, reaching 25 crore citizens, the government is equipping the next generation to shift from being digital consumers to controllers of emerging technologies at an unprecedented scale.
Moreover, programs such as AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools drive our 'Orange Economy.' It is the emphasis on teacher capacity building and digital infrastructure that makes this budget truly strong. These measures provide the necessary tailwinds to continue delivering a tech-enabled, equitable learning ecosystem that prepares every Indian student to lead on a global stage."
Amit Shukla, General Manager – Head of Indian Operations, Alma Medical Private Limited
"The 2026 Union Budget is a progressive way forward that smartly integrates technology, health, and innovation, thereby bolstering India's growth trajectory. The rapid adoption of AI-powered tools through large-scale Capacity Building AI Missions for a whopping 25 crore Indian citizens definitely reflects India's strong commitment towards digital empowerment and skill enhancement for a competitive, futuristic AI-driven world. For beauty aesthetics and MedTech firms like ours, fostering domestic manufacturing, reinforcing Make-in-India, advancing preventive care, digital health, and clinical device protection is revolutionary. Additionally, the rationalized taxes and GST will make advanced lasers, diagnostics, and aesthetic tech more accessible, while expansion in homegrown infrastructure will provide a larger reach to customers. These strategic initiatives will effectively merge tech innovation and affordability and position India at a competitive edge on a global scale."
Quote – Mr. Ravi Saxena, CEO & Founder, Wonderchef
"The 2026 Budget reflects a clear focus on strengthening the fundamentals of the economy, business, and better living. The government's commitment to improving fiscal and revenue discipline lays a strong foundation for sustainable growth. On the business front, the emphasis on supporting MSMEs, boosting domestic manufacturing, and expanding digital infrastructure will help enterprises enhance efficiency and resilience. Equally important are the measures aimed at improving living standards through initiatives such as affordable housing, skill development, and women-led entrepreneurship under SHE-Marts.
While the stock market's immediate reaction has been cautious due to the hike in STT on F&O transactions, we believe this Budget sets the right direction for long-term value creation. Its structural reforms and inclusive measures will gradually strengthen consumption, restore investor confidence, and drive balanced growth across sectors."
Economic & Policy
Rahul Ahluwalia, Founder-Director of Foundation for Economic Development
This budget is a welcome statement of the government's policy intent - growth and deregulation are the most critical aspects for India and the budget recognises this. The budget also maintains stability from a macroeconomic perspective, keeping fiscal deficits in the expected range. Big reforms were not announced in the budget but that will hopefully be the role of the other arms of government instead of being part of the government's statement of accounts.
Quote from Mr. Ekansh Garg, Co-founder & CEO at Cravicious Foods
It's encouraging to see the Union Budget 2026–27 put the spotlight firmly on India's food processing sector. Support for the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, along with the proposed ₹28,000 crore allocation over five years for flagship food processing initiatives, signals a serious push to modernize infrastructure, expand cold storage, and strengthen production and testing facilities. For companies like ours, this creates the foundation to grow responsibly, maintain high quality, and ensure compliance. Strong infrastructure not only helps reduce wastage but also enables brands to scale efficiently and deliver products that meet both domestic and global standards. This approach makes it clear that India is committed to becoming a global hub for clean, ready-to-cook, and frozen foods, giving businesses the confidence to innovate and bring better solutions to consumers everywhere.-- said Mr. Ekansh Garg, Co-founder & CEO at Cravicious Foods
Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC (Indian Chamber of Commerce), on behalf of ICC, congratulated the Honourable Finance Minister for presenting a "very strategic" Budget. He said it lays out both short-term and long-term plans, with the long-term vision focused on building national and industrial capacity for self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat).
In the short term, he highlighted measures aimed at improving access to finance and equity, risk coverage, ease of doing business, simplification of regulations, decriminalisation of laws, and a more user-friendly customs regime. The Budget's focus on reducing import dependence in key sectors, strengthening skills, agriculture, AI technology and infrastructure, and maintaining fiscal deficit targets, he said, creates a predictable and dependable environment for investors.
"I would describe this as a very balanced and strategically thought-out Budget that supports both immediate economic needs and long-term nation building," Dr. Singh concluded.
Shoven Shah, Founder & CEO, TribeVibe Entertainment, said, "The Union Budget's focus on the orange economy recognises creativity and live entertainment as powerful engines of India's growing soft power. As live experiences continue to shape cultural influence over the last few years, this push will further accelerate the sector's growth. Coupled with the focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, it enables high-quality live events to reach deeper into India, a prime area of focus for us as we continue to democratise access to culture and entertainment beyond metros."
Mr. Ankit Mehta – CEO of ideaForge Technology Pvt. Ltd. on the Defense & Technology segment-
"We congratulate the Finance Minister for presenting a pragmatic Budget that continues to prioritise Defence capital outlay while strengthening India's domestic manufacturing ecosystem, electronics base, and semiconductor capabilities. Proposed measures such as the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, the expanded Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, and support for advanced technology R&D signal a strong focus on building strategic supply chains and indigenous high-tech capability.
With Defence capital expenditure in FY27 rising to ₹2.19 Lakh Crore, almost 22% higher than last year, the government has signalled a strong commitment to modernisation and long-term capability building. This provides clear guidance for frontier technologies and positions ideaForge to continue leading in indigenous UAVs, electronic warfare systems, and advanced aerial platforms, while contributing to India's vision of a Viksit Bharat and a forward-moving Bharat."
The gap between higher education and the job market has long been a concern, and it is encouraging to see the government taking note. The Union Budget 2026–27 addresses this challenge through the proposal of a high-powered education-to-employment standing committee, aimed at focusing on employment generation, export of services and technologies, and integrating AI-linked skills with evolving job requirements. This demonstrates a clear intent to align higher education with the needs of the modern labour market. Additionally, the allocation of a Rs. 10,000 crore growth fund for MSMEs will help build stronger organizations, which in turn will create more employment opportunities. These measures address both the supply and demand sides of the system, providing a meaningful boost to the career prospects of India's young workforce and strengthening the broader economic ecosystem.-- said Ms. Rakhi Pal, Co-Founder & COO at EventBeep
Union Budget | Raj Kumar Medimi — Executive Director, Trinity Cleantech
"The Union Budget 2026–27 presents a forward-looking roadmap that balances growth, fiscal discipline, and long-term sustainability. The government's decision to sustain public capital expenditure at around ₹12.2 lakh crore, accounting for approximately 3.4% of GDP, reinforces infrastructure-led growth as a key economic driver. This continued focus on large-scale infrastructure creation and manufacturing-led development sends a strong signal of policy stability and long-term confidence to industry.
The focus on energy security, modern infrastructure, and environmentally sustainable systems is particularly significant at a time when grid resilience, electrification, and clean mobility are becoming central to national competitiveness. Investments in power infrastructure, logistics, urban development, and technology-led governance will help create a more efficient and future-ready ecosystem for industries and utilities alike. Measures aimed at reducing compliance burdens, enhancing ease of doing business, and improving liquidity for enterprises will further enable manufacturers to scale responsibly and innovate with confidence.
Equally encouraging is the Budget's emphasis on indigenisation, technology adoption, and skill development, which together strengthen India's position as a global manufacturing and innovation hub. By combining a strong push for 'Make in India' with prudent fiscal management and long-term planning, the Budget lays the groundwork for sustainable growth while supporting India's transition toward smarter grids, cleaner energy systems, and resilient infrastructure. Overall, the Budget provides industry with the clarity, continuity, and confidence needed to invest in future-ready solutions that align economic growth with environmental responsibility."
Attributed to Rajeev Ranka, Partner at Incubate Fund Asia
"The Finance Minister's emphasis on building the MSME ecosystem with strategic capital allocation, including the SME Growth Fund of ₹10,000 crores and the infusion of ₹2,000 crores into risk capital for micro-enterprises, is a timely and impactful step. These measures will greatly help alleviate liquidity constraints and give emerging entrepreneurs the confidence to scale without sacrificing financial resilience. The overall thrust on aligning education, employment, and enterprise is yet another step in the right direction to build a strong foundation for sustainable growth. As Investors, we believe that this budget further cements long-term confidence in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and its ability to create innovation-driven, job-creating enterprises at scale."
Mr. Abhay Parnerkar, CEO, Godrej Foods Ltd, offering a perspective from the Agri, poultry, and food value-chain ecosystem, an area seeing renewed policy focus in this year’s Budget.
“The Union Budget 2026 reflects a strong and welcome focus on strengthening India’s Agri and animal husbandry ecosystem. The government’s push towards credit-linked support for animal husbandry, development of farmer producer organizations, and integrated approaches to improving farmer incomes will go a long way in reinforcing resilient, future-ready food value chains. At Godrej Foods Ltd, our farm-to-fork model is built on deep partnerships with farmers, who remain central to everything we do, from quality and traceability to consumer trust. Continued investment in agricultural infrastructure, innovation, and manufacturing capabilities not only empowers farmers but also enables food brands to deliver safe, nutritious, and responsibly produced food to Indian households. These measures signal a positive step towards building a more sustainable and inclusive food economy.”
